It Will Take Everything You Have
John 17:6-19
Illustration
by Barbara Brown Taylor

Episcopal priest and author Barbara Brown Taylor writes, "If Jesus were in charge of an average congregation I figure there would be about four people left there on Sunday mornings, and chances are those four would be fooling themselves. Jesus would greet newcomers by saying, "Are you absolutely sure you want to follow this way of life? It will take everything you have. It has to come before everything else that matters to you. Plenty of people have launched out on it without counting the cost, and as you can see they are not here anymore. The other thing is, if you succeed, if you really follow me, it will probably get you killed. Why don't you go home and think it over? I would hate for you to get in over your head.'"

Bread of Angels, p. 47, by Barbara Brown Taylor