“Jesus never concealed the fact that his religion included a demand as well as an offer.  Indeed, the demand was as total as the offer was free. If he offered men his  salvation,
he also demanded their submission. He gave no encouragement whatever to thoughtless
applicants for discipleship. He brought no pressure to bear on any enquirer. He sent  irresponsible enthusiasts empty away. He never lowered his standards or modified his  conditions to make his call more readily acceptable. He asked his first disciples, and he  has asked every disciple since, to give him their thoughtful and total commitment.  Nothing less than this will do.”
~ John Stott, Basic Christianity