A Price to Pay
Luke 14:27-30 Whoever will not carry the cross that is given to them when they follow me cannot be my follower. "If you wanted to build a building, you would first sit down and decide how much it would cost. You must see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you don't do that, you might begin the work, but you would not be able to finish. And if you could not finish it, everyone would laugh at you. They would say, 'This man began to build, but he was not able to finish.’ … It is the same for each of you. You must leave everything you have to follow me. If not, you cannot be my follower.
Why is following Jesus so difficult some days? How is it that the free gift of eternal life can turn into such a hard slog?
Anything in life that’s worth having, is going to cost you something – an education, a career, a house, a marriage, a family. It doesn’t matter what it is – it’ll cost you! There are always sacrifices needed, to get the good things that you want.
When I discovered the so-called “good news of Jesus Christ”, I thought, “Wow! Finally, something really good, that won’t cost me anything. Forgiveness from God, eternal life – all a free gift!” And so, it is!
But when I gave my life to Jesus, I discovered that in fact, there is a cost. Now don’t get me wrong. God’s forgiveness and the gift of eternal life are completely free. But you can’t live out those gifts as a consumer, constantly asking, “What’s in it for me?” That’s just not how it works.
Luke 14:27-30 Whoever will not carry the cross that is given to them when they follow me cannot be my follower. “If you wanted to build a building, you would first sit down and decide how much it would cost. You must see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you don’t do that, you might begin the work, but you would not be able to finish. And if you could not finish it, everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘This man began to build, but he was not able to finish.’ … It is the same for each of you. You must leave everything you have to follow me. If not, you cannot be my follower.
Will following Jesus cost you something? Absolutely! It’ll cost you your life.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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