Leaving all things with Christ
O Lord,
We pray that your grace may always precede and follow after us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(Anglican Book of Common Prayer, Proper 17)
Luke 14:25-33 NRSV
Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
Warren Wiersbe
When it comes to salvation, God wants everybody who will come; but when it comes to discipleship, He wants only those who will pay the price. Jesus was not impressed by the great crowds that followed Him because He knew their hearts. He was on His way to a cross outside Jerusalem, and the crowds were not ready for that. It is easy to be in the crowd but not so easy to carry the cross. After we “come in” and find salvation, we must “come to” Him for our cross, and then “come after” Him in obedience to His will. Jesus is the Host at “salvation’s supper,” but He is the Master in our Christian walk of faith.
The builder and the king represent the Lord Jesus and not the believer. Jesus is building His church and needs to have the best materials. He is fighting a battle and must have the finest soldiers. Are we the kind of quality people that He can use for building and battling? If we are not faithful disciples, then He cannot use us to get the job done. God lays down qualifications and expects us to meet them. He is looking for those with “salty character” (Matthew 5:13) who will help Him influence this decayed world (vv. 34–35).[1]
“Casting My Burdens Upon Jesus”
Most blessed God and Father, I bless you, I praise you, and I desire to love you in and through Jesus.
And while my whole soul benefits and enjoys the person and work of Jesus, keep me always mindful that it is you, most gracious and almighty Father, that have made him most blessed forever. Your glory is great in his salvation, and the glory of the Son of God is great in your salvation!
Yes, blessed Jesus, I would cast all upon you: sins, sorrows, trials, and temptations. You are the Almighty Burden-bearer of your people, for the Lord Jehovah has laid on you the iniquity of us all.
And as you bear all our sins, so you carry all our sorrows. And do you not bear every one of your redeemed? Do you not bear all our troubles, temptations, trials, and difficulties? The government is upon your shoulder. The care of the church is all with you. So, will I not cast all my care upon you? Will I worry about many things, while Jesus says, “Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you?”
Lord, give me grace to let loose all things and to leave all things with you. Lord, bear me up when I am falling, support me when weak, uphold me against all my enemies, carry me safe through a life of grace here, and finally bring me home to your glory, to behold you, and dwell with you forever. Amen.[2]
Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 182.
[2] A Prayer by Robert Hawker. Used in worship at Cayce Presbyterian Church, Cayce, SC on Sunday September 7, 2025.
