Count the cost of discipleship...
Illustration
Count the cost of discipleship, our Lord warns. A young soldier once tried to give that advice to Douglas MacArthur (who seems not to have needed it). During WWI, in the midst of a crucial battle on the German front, the American military leader stood exposed on a parapet. One hand held his field glasses to his eyes, while the other was clenched in excitement. Machine gun bullets were flying all around him. His alarmed adjutant climbed up next to MacArthur and touched him on the arm. He said, "If I might suggest, sir, your position is dangerous. The machine guns are reaching here." MacArthur looked at his assistant, thought momentarily, and replied, "Oh, yes, quite right. Get down in that trench at once!"