Counting the Cost

Have you ever counted the cost of following Jesus?  Salvation is entirely free, praise the Lord, you can’t buy it.  But being Jesus’ disciple will cost you something in the long run.

In Luke 14:25–27 Jesus spoke to the crowds that were following him saying, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and his children, his brothers and sisters – yes even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.  And anyone that does not carry his own cross cannot be my disciple!”  If I didn’t know better I would think this was a contradiction, but it is not.  What it is, is a vivid hyperbole meaning that you cannot love your immediate family more than Jesus.  Remember Abraham, he was willing to give up his only son and his only child for the Lord.

Jesus also told a story about building a tower and estimating the cost to build it.  Making sure if he starts building, he won’t look foolish if he hasn’t got the money to finish.  Then He goes on to talk about a King going into battle.  He doesn’t go into battle without enough men to at least have a chance to win the battle.  If he doesn’t have enough men, he will try to find a way to bring a peaceful end to the situation.  In other words these people will sit down and count the cost of their situation.

Then Jesus says in Luke 14:33 “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  These verses were taken from the NIV Bible.  Jesus was warning the people that the cost of following Him would take complete surrender.  

Jesus also said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:12, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  Jesus also said in Matthew 10:34-35, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—”   

So it is important for us to count the cost of following Jesus.  Some people give up when things don’t go the way they expected them to because they were not prepared for the battle.  I don’t want this to happen to you or anyone else that began this journey, so hang in there because whatever it costs it will be worth it.

There is a song that goes like this:

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus;

Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ.

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

(Words by Esther K. Rusthoi)

This song is a great reminder that when we stand before the Lord someday all our heartaches, trials and tribulation will mean nothing.  Just think, our sicknesses, our stress and our tears will be gone forever and we will be completely free, praise the Lord!  We won’t be inferior to anyone, we will all stand on the same level-on holy ground.  There won’t be any cliques or divisions.  Pride will be a thing of the past along with every other sin that seemed to cling to us in this life.  Just think, everyone will be treated the same, no more favorites.  And this is going to be so cool, people will really love and not just talk about it.  We will see Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith and we will be overwhelmed at His majesty.  Many of our loved ones and friends will be their along with all the other Saints all down through history.

What a day that will be

When my Jesus I shall see,

And I look upon His face,

The One who saved me by His grace;

When He takes me by the hand

And leads me through the Promised Land,

What a day, glorious day that will be.

(The lyrics to the Gospel song, "What A Day That Will Be" is by Jim Hill)

I guess this is a day that the Lord wanted me to add songs to my lesson which doesn’t happen very often, praise the Lord!

So if you haven’t already, start thinking about your willingness to be completely sold out to Jesus, you may have to give up some things that are hindering the process, but in the end it will be worth it all.

God bless you and have a great day. And don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!