The Cost

As someone that has a heart for the prophetic and evangelism, I have thought about the cost of following Jesus more and more. There is a verse the comes to mind that I just can’t seem to shake off. I’ve read it over and over again. I find myself when I’m alone with God, praying, weeping, and just becoming infatuated with who Jesus is and what he has done. The verse is this:
As massive crowds followed Jesus, he turned to them and said, “When you follow me as my disciple, must hate your father, your mother, your wife, your sisters, your brothers-yes, you will even seem as though you hate your own life.” (Luke 14:25-26)
Hate is a strong word and most cultures means that you despise someone. In this case Jesus isn’t saying to hate, but to put aside every other relationship in second place. He’s portraying the jealous love of God. He wants and desires us to want to give him our entire lives.  
I think practically, we let other things in our lives compete with our relationship with Jesus whether that be our relationships, doubts, worries, social media, etc.. Anything that takes your focus off of Jesus is keeping you from fully giving your entire self to him. 
The day to day is a cost of you want to follow Jesus. I don’t want to sugarcoat it because we already live in a sugarcoated and compromised Christian culture. 
1. What does it look like for you to count the cost?
2. Are you willing to share the cross with Jesus?