As sports fans, we are eagerly awaiting the return of the NBA and NHL and the start of a new season in the NFL and MLB.

Whether following closely or loosely, we’ve been hearing about the negotiations between owners and players as they work out the details for how their sports can operate in the current environment.

Of course, like so many things, it comes down to money and specifically how much an altered season will cost the owners and the players as overall yearly revenues are sure to drop with fewer games and a lack of ticket sales.

Baseball, in particular, has had intense back and forth deliberation about their potential season with players and owners disagreeing on how much money they’re willing to give up.

The number of games they’ll play, amount of salary cuts, and health risks are all being factored into the cost of having a 2020 season and we’re still waiting to hear what they’ll commit to. Players must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in order to get back on the field.

As sports fans, we’re probably not as concerned with what it will cost millionaires and billionaires because ultimately we just want them to find a way for our favorite sports to return.

The concept of “counting the cost” is still something we can relate to, however, because we find ourselves in our own negotiations involving money, relationships, and other risks we take in life.

We regularly face key decisions and agreements that have to be made. Whether getting married or having a baby or buying a house, we are required to give up or sacrifice something in order to gain something and move forward.

Spiritually speaking, this concept plays out a little differently and can sometimes be hard for us to wrestle with. There’s no question that God freely offers us salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection, and there’s nothing we can do to earn His love and grace. He paid our sin debt on the cross.

Although eternal life and forgiveness of our sin are free when we place our faith and hope in Jesus, He makes it clear that becoming one of His committed disciples will cost us something while here on earth.

To be a true follower of His means we give up our own way, sacrifice our comfort, let go of our worldly desires, love Him more than anything, and transfer ownership of our lives. We have to be willing to count the cost of being His disciple and then commit.

Jesus explains in Luke 14:25-30 (NLT), “A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, ‘If you want to be My disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be my disciple.

“’But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, “There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!”‘”

As sports fans, we can’t wait for the action to resume, regardless of the cost. But, as Jesus’ disciples, are we willing to follow Him regardless of the cost? Are we willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary and live the life He’s inviting us into?

This is a big commitment not to be taken lightly. Today, let’s embrace the daily sacrifice of giving up our way to follow His way.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I want to be a committed disciple of Jesus, willing to follow Him regardless of the cost. Help me not to cling to my selfish desires or fears of this world, but instead take up my cross daily. Please show me what I need to let go of. Thank you for the free gift of salvation. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions for PACKS:

  1. What has been the cost of discipleship in your own life?

  2. What is holding you back or what are you unwilling to let go of in order to be a totally committed disciple of Jesus?