The Price of CrossFitness

The Price of CrossFitness Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Sacrifice; Discipleship / Luke 14:25-35 Introduction To be cross fit there is a cost and a price to pay. The cost comes in the form of discomfort or pain (good pain not bad pain) - for we all know the saying no pain no gain. But no one ever achieved fitness and performance level cross fitness without paying the full price at the gym and in the workouts. There is no discount cross fitness - you must pay the full price. Spiritual Crossfitness comes with a price as well that must be paid. Discipleship is costly - in fact we could say this "Salvation is Free but CrossFitness is expensive" Sometimes when it comes to the church we spend a lot of time talking about the free gift and the simple salvation - that we tend to go light on the details of discipleship. Usually when sharing the gospel its a good idea to share the ease of salvation and talk them into accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and then to turn around and try to talk them out of it by giving them the heads up about discipleship. For some the idea or goal is to do as little as possible to gain eternal life - we are willing to follow Jesus until it gets hard or painful and we give up or walk away because the cost is to much - the price is more than we are willing to pay. This morning we are finishing Luke 14 and Jesus is going to bluntly speak of the cost for those who wish to follow Him. The truth of life is anything worth having comes at great - price, cost and/or sacrifice and the same is true Spiritually and with Spiritual CrossFitness. Salvation came by grace from God which costs nothing but Crossfitness is not about getting in - its about developing relationship with Jesus - its not just a decision but its discipleship and it comes at great price - and we all must answer the question - are you willing to pay the price for Spiritual Crossfitness? Luke 14:25-27 CSB 25 Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, and even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:28-30 CSB 28 "For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This man started to build and wasn't able to finish.' Luke 14:31-33 CSB 31 "Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:34-35 CSB 34 "Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? 35 It isn't fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen." Relationships - Love Others Less to Love Him More Luke 14:25-26 CSB 25 Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, and even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. Here we find again a crowd is following Jesus. This seems to be the norm when Jesus puts the Pharisees in their place and goes toe to toe with them, the people start to follow Him in greater number. Many who want to follow Him but few who want to follow after Him as disciples. Jesus starts by calling them out and declaring whats required of those who wish to be His disciple those who seek to be crossfit. Real quick Jesus put a limit to those who would follow Him or be a disciple and says if anyone (anyone at all) comes to me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters cannot be His disciple. If you do not hate your own you cannot be His disciple. Now do we really believe that Jesus was teaching anyone to hate anyone else? Let alone hate our own family? Just to follow Him? NO - not in the least, Jesus has in many other places and the word of God states many times in many ways that we are supposed love others. Matthew 15:4 CSB 4 For God said: Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. So what is Jesus saying then? Jesus is talking about priority here, speaking to when the two opposing people are competing for our obedience and allegiance. Matthew 6:24 CSB 24 "No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. This is not only true for God and Money but for God with anyone. Jesus is saying that in the priority of things He comes first ALWAYS. In order to love Him more we must love others less in priority. Our familial relationships and the strain put on them becomes a price that we must be willing to pay for CrossFitness. Life - Count the Cost to Pay The Price Luke 14:27-30 CSB 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 "For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This man started to build and wasn't able to finish.' Then Jesus steps out to increase the cost for those who wish to be His disciple - they must also hate their OWN life! Again Jesus isnt calling us to self-loathing but rather using hyperbole to say that He comes first in the life of His disciples even above themselves. This means our choices, desires, actions, etc come second to what He commands and calls. This is the price of CrossFitness. In order to make His point perfectly clear - Jesus says whoever (anyone without exception) does not bear their own cross and come after me CANNOT - again CAN NOT be His disciple. We might try to find the fine print or the loop holes but Jesus didnt allow wiggle room when He declared His disciples must carry their own cross In calling His disciples to bear their cross He was saying to walk as if they were condemned and dead already. Those condemned no longer free to go where they wish, do what they want - they are led and they do what they are told. They have no thoughts to themselves. Jesus is giving a picture that those who wish to follow Him and be His disciples no longer live for themselves but they live for Him and walk where He walks. Now I have heard and have made jokes about crosses to bear and my cross to bear - but its not ongoing chronic pain or financials issues illness or even noisy bothersome people/neighbors - that's life and is common to all - believer and non-believer alike. Bearing one's cross is not a physical infirmity or mental anguish but is a path we walk in life of reproach, suffering, loneliness (at times) and even death. The cross is the way by which we die to self in order that others can be saved, helped, redeemed, restored. Jesus says His disciples will choose this voluntarily. To follow Jesus and be His disciple requires total sacrifice and anyone not willing for the sacrifice is not able to be a disciple of Jesus - is not able to be crossfit Is the price too steep? Are you willing to pay it? Count the cost to decide if you are willing to pay it. Dont have sticker shock or buyer's remorse later on - but understand fully what it is to follow Jesus and what the cost is. Jesus uses the example of a contractor setting up to build a tower - he will count the cost to make sure he has what it will take to finish the project. Lest He begins building and decide its not worth the cost and will endure the ridicule of those looking in and watching We have some project like that here in El Paso - houses on a hill still in framing state because the cost to build was more than they were able or willing to bear. Consider the cost - count it - Jesus is asking - are you willing to pay the full price of discipleship? To be crossfit? Possessions - Give Up Everything For the One Worth Everything Luke 14:31-33 CSB 31 "Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. Jesus next uses a different illustration of a king considering war with another king/kingdom. Before entering the campaign of conflict with the opposing king the one king must first sit down and decide if he is able to oppose this king/kingdom. If he decides that he does not then he must be willing to ask for terms of peace. Jesus says in the same way everyone one of you who does not renounce ALL his possessions cannot be my disciple. The one sitting on the throne - making the decisions - must consider the other throne - can he overthrow him and pay the cost to do so? Can he more readily afford to make peace instead? Our kingdom and God's kingdom are in conflict - can you afford to go to war with God? Are you willing to pay the cost for peace with God? Jesus says we must renounce possessions in order for peace with God. No cost is too high and no possession is worth the peace of your soul Mark 8:36 CSB 36 For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? Jesus paid the cost to obtain salvation for all who would believe in Him and follow Him. He asks us to renounce all to obtain peace and salvation. Are you willing to pay the price of crossfitness and give up everything for the one worth everything? Again Jesus isnt calling us to literally give up all things and every possession. He is asking for priority - He must be worth more than the things you have or the things you want to have. He is asking us to view our things as really belonging to Him and coming from Him Matthew 6:33 CSB 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. To be His disciple we must be willing to give up everything for Him - because He is worth everything! Usefulness - High Cost of Maintenance Luke 14:34-35 CSB 34 "Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? 35 It isn't fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen." Jesus seemingly changes and starts a new topic here speaking on salt and how salt if it loses its taste cant be made salty again. It then without the saltiness is useless - for the soil and the manure pile and so it is thrown out. Jesus is using salt as an illustration but He hasnt changed topics. He is speaking a truth to those who desire to be disciples and be crossfit. He is saying there is a price in order to remain and maintain usefulness and value. Salt was a valued item of the day - its common to us but without it we suffer poor tasting food and unrelenting spicy food. Salt in those days had great value though both for flavoring and preserving. In fact part of a soldier's pay was given in salt. Salt and salary are related and we get the expression "He is not worth his salt" from this exchange. Salt is good only as it retains the characteristic of saltiness. If it loses its saltiness it has no value and is thrown out. The same is true of disciples. But here is the thing about salt - it doesnt lose its saltiness - but rather becomes diluted and the flavor is lost among everything else. Salt doesnt lose its flavor - it gets diluted the same is true for disciples their effectiveness gets diluted by the world and the cares of the world and they are no longer willing to pay the price Revelation 3:14-15 CSB 14 "Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God's creation: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. Revelation 3:16-17 CSB 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, 'I'm rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,' and you don't realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Revelation 3:18-19 CSB 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. Jesus is specific in mentioning He only disciplines and rebukes those whom He loves. There is a price to pay to remain useful as a disciple of Jesus. Just like there is a cost associated with keeping anything well maintained. The cost of maintenance is always cheaper than the cost of not maintaining. What things are we unwilling to sacrifice that is crowding out our devotion to Jesus as disciples? When a disciple loses his devotion thrown out - not by Jesus but by the world and becomes ineffective in the world around them. Those who fail to pay the price of CrossFitness and also maintenance will fail to impact the world around them Conclusion Jesus calls us out of the crowd of just following Him to be His disciples - not just a fan of Jesus but a disciple of Jesus. He calls us to be CrossFit disciples - but there is a price to pay to follow Jesus. Most leaders would be elated with such widespread interest and desire to follow. Jesus however is definitely not most leaders - He doesnt want those who follow Him out of convenience or curiosity because neither one of those comes from real whole hearted desire and interest. Jesus is looking for those who are willing to live devotedly and passionately for Him even dying for Him if necessary. Jesus is looking for those who are willing to pay the price - the full price for CrossFitness Only those who are crossfit can be His disciples Entrance fee to heaven is nothing the annual subscription is everything - Henry Drummond John Calvin - "I gave up all for Christ and what have I found? I have found everything in Christ." Paul said it best for himself Philippians 3:7-8 NLT 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ Jesus says it best for us all to realize Luke 18:29-30 CSB 29 So he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come." A disciple must count the cost carefully and pay the whole price sacrificially. Dedication and devotion to God has no limits - crossfitness means total sacrifice of everything. It costs something to be a disciple of Jesus but remember that it costs more to reject following Him. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:16 PM November 21, 2020.