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The Daily Devotional
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
The Cost of Following Jesus
“He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me. He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” — Matthew 10:37–39
Reflection
There are times when people come to church expecting comfort, encouragement, familiar words, and a sense of peace. Those are good and holy gifts, and the Lord often meets His people with tenderness, healing, and reassurance. Yet there are also times when the words of Jesus come to us with a sharpness we did not expect. We may be startled, not because the words are wrong, but because they are true. We may even find ourselves shocked by something spoken in church, only to discover that what we heard was not an opinion, not an exaggeration, and not a preacher’s harshness, but the direct voice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Matthew 10:24–39 is one of those passages. Jesus is preparing His disciples for the road ahead. He does not tell them that following Him will guarantee approval, safety, popularity, or ease. He tells them that the disciple is not above the teacher, and the servant is not above the lord. If the world has rejected Him, His followers should not be surprised when they also face rejection. He tells them not to fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. He reminds them that the Father sees even the sparrows, and that they are worth more than many sparrows. Then He speaks words that unsettle every shallow idea of discipleship: loyalty to Him must come before every other earthly attachment, even the closest bonds of family.
These words are not easy. Jesus is not telling us to despise our families or neglect those entrusted to our care. The same Lord who speaks these words also commands love, mercy, honor, forgiveness, and faithfulness. But He is making clear that no relationship, no comfort, no reputation, no personal ambition, and no instinct for self-preservation may sit on the throne that belongs to Him alone. Discipleship is not simply adding Jesus to an already crowded life. It is surrendering the whole life to Him.
An everyday picture may help us understand this. Imagine a mechanic working in a small-town garage. A longtime customer brings in a vehicle and asks for a quick inspection before selling it. As the mechanic looks it over, he discovers a serious safety issue. The customer quietly says, “Don’t write that down. I just need it to pass. Nobody will know.” The mechanic knows that telling the truth may cost him business. It may anger a friend. It may make him look difficult. It would be easier to stay silent, take the money, and avoid conflict. But integrity has a cost. Love of neighbor has a cost. Faithfulness has a cost. To do what is right, he must be willing to lose approval in order to keep a clear conscience before God.
That is not a dramatic martyrdom, but it is a real moment of discipleship. Many of the crosses we carry are not made of wood and nails. They may look like honesty when dishonesty would be profitable, forgiveness when bitterness feels justified, humility when pride wants to defend itself, silence when gossip would gain attention, courage when fear tells us to hide, or obedience when compromise would make life easier. The cost of discipleship often appears in ordinary places: the workplace, the kitchen table, the family conversation, the hospital room, the public decision, the private temptation.
Jesus does not hide this cost from us. He is merciful enough to tell us the truth. Following Him may divide what we thought would remain comfortable. It may expose loyalties we did not know were competing for our hearts. It may require us to disappoint people we love because we cannot disobey the One who first loved us. It may require us to stand quietly and faithfully when others misunderstand. But Jesus also gives deep comfort in the same passage. He tells us not to fear. He reminds us that the Father knows us so completely that even the hairs of our head are numbered. The One who calls us to take up the cross does not abandon us beneath its weight.
The challenge for today is to ask honestly: Where am I being invited to choose Christ above comfort? Where am I tempted to soften His words, hide my faith, protect my reputation, or seek my life on my own terms? The call of Jesus is not meant to crush us. It is meant to free us from lesser masters. The life we clutch in fear will eventually slip through our hands, but the life surrendered to Christ is found in Him.
Discipleship is costly, but Christ is worthy. His way may not always be easy, but it is true. His words may disturb us before they comfort us, but they lead us into life. The Savior who calls us to lose our lives for His sake is the same Savior who gave His life for us. Therefore, we do not follow Him alone, and we do not follow Him in vain.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, give us grace to hear Your words with humble and willing hearts, even when they challenge our expectations and unsettle our comfort. Teach us to love You above approval, security, reputation, and every earthly attachment, while still loving others with mercy and faithfulness. Strengthen us to take up the cross You place before us today, whether it appears in courage, honesty, forgiveness, sacrifice, or quiet obedience. Free us from fear, deepen our trust in the Father’s care, and form in us a discipleship that is faithful, humble, and true. May we lose what cannot save us and find our life fully in You. Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the World English Bible (WEB), which is a Public Domain Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Holy Bible, first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. It is in draft form and is currently being edited for accuracy and readability. All rights reserved.
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