The Cost of Discipleship: Why Surrender Isn’t Easy but Worth It(Living Sacrifice)

 Living Sacrifice Series

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”
—Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

“Count the cost.”
—Luke 14:28

There’s a misconception in today’s culture that following Jesus is a feel-good, comfortable lifestyle. A motivational pick-me-up. A gentle guide to success and happiness. But Jesus never marketed the Gospel like that. In fact, His invitation to discipleship came with a cost and He never softened it.

He said, “Follow Me” but also, “Take up your cross.”
He promised abundant life but also suffering, trials, and sacrifice.
He offers grace but calls us to lay down our lives.

This is the paradox of the Gospel: the path to life runs straight through death death to self, to comfort, to control.

And yet, it’s in this surrender that we find true life. Eternal life. Abundant life. Purposeful life.

1. What Is the Cost of Discipleship?

To be a disciple is not simply to believe in Jesus it’s to follow Him. To be shaped, stretched, and sanctified by Him.

Jesus was clear:

“Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
—Luke 14:27

That’s a hard word. Carrying your cross isn’t a metaphor for having a bad day. In Jesus’ time, a cross meant one thing: death. It meant saying “no” to your way, your desires, your pride and saying “yes” to His will, His ways, and His purposes, even when it hurts.

Surrendering to Jesus costs you:

• Your comfort

• Your pride

• Your need for control

• Sometimes even your relationships, opportunities, or reputation

But here’s the beautiful truth: it may cost you everything, but you gain even more.

2. Why Surrender Isn’t Easy

We live in a world that preaches self-fulfillment:
"Follow your heart."
"Live your truth."
"Do what makes you happy."

Jesus says the opposite:
“Deny yourself.”
“Take up your cross.”
“Follow Me.”

Surrender isn’t natural. It goes against every fleshly instinct we have. Our hearts crave independence. We want to be in control. We want Jesus to bless our plans, not change them. But discipleship requires the opposite posture: submission.

Even Jesus Himself had to surrender. In the garden of Gethsemane, He cried out:

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
—Luke 22:42

He chose the cross. For us.

And now, He invites us to choose surrender. For Him.

3. The Rich Young Ruler: A Case Study in Cost

In Mark 10, a wealthy young man comes to Jesus, eager to inherit eternal life. He’s morally upright and seemingly sincere. But Jesus says to him:

“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
—Mark 10:21

The young man walks away, grieved, because he wasn’t willing to pay the cost.

Jesus wasn’t being cruel. He was revealing the man’s idol.
His heart clung to wealth more than God.
And Jesus, in His love, wouldn’t allow him to follow halfway.

The same is true for us. He will put His finger on whatever competes for our affection because He loves us too much to let us live in divided loyalty.

4. What You Gain When You Let Go

Let’s be honest: surrendering control, comfort, or personal ambition is painful. But what comes from it?

• Peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7)

• Joy that isn’t based on circumstances (John 15:11)

• Intimacy with God that can’t be manufactured

• A life that bears eternal fruit (John 15:5)

• The crown of eternal life (James 1:12)

Jesus doesn’t call you to lay down your life so He can ruin it He calls you to lay it down so He can redeem it. When you give up your small plans, He replaces them with a Kingdom vision that spans eternity.

As Jim Elliot famously said:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

5. Living Sacrifice: A Daily Surrender

Romans 12:1 says:

“Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God this is your true and proper worship.”

A living sacrifice keeps crawling off the altar. That’s why surrender isn’t a one-time moment; it’s a daily decision. Every morning, we must ask:

• Will I choose comfort or calling?

• Will I choose my way or His?

• Will I follow feelings or faith?

It’s not easy. But Jesus never said it would be. He simply promised it would be worth it.

“Whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.”
—Matthew 16:25

Final Thoughts: The Cross Before the Crown

Following Jesus is costly. It requires everything. But if we’ve truly seen the worth of Christ how could we give Him anything less?

He laid down His life for us. Will we lay ours down for Him?

Don’t settle for half-hearted Christianity. Don’t stop at belief. Choose surrender.

Pick up your cross.

Lose your life.

And in doing so you’ll finally find it.