Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Jesus made this comment right after challenging His disciples in what it would take to follow Him. I don’t know you but I never considered what it would cost me to follow Jesus. I was a lost soul and nothing I had mattered. It was never a consideration. I cannot recall one conversation with any of my brethren who said as much.
The sinner who is a bit of a scoffer on the other hand, they do talk about it. Their view of Christianity is more than a little skewed if they think we do not have fun, or that we live such a pious life that we have no sin. Silly rabbits, Tricks are for kids. But who is to blame for that false image of the church? I must admit that there is a vast array of opinions being cast about by social and public media.
Fear not, I am not about to ask you to take up a cause. What I would remind you however is what Jesus said about those who choose to follow Him.
Matthew 8:26 Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
How much does it cost to follow Jesus? Your fear, you will lose your fear.
I came from a 2 generation Christian home, so the cost of following Jesus was not much of an issue. When I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior in 1946 at age 10+, I had already seen first-hand in my parents what it meant to be all for Jesus. I can truly say to anyone reading your meditation on “How Much”–Jesus gave me His ALL- does He deserve any less? Your remarks on yesterday’s comments post, Larry, were so heart-warming–truly amazing that He would love me, a sinner, and give Himself for me!! This causes me to bow at His feet in worship.
We all have different turning point Ron. Bless those who come early for that gives Satan less material to work with. For others much of the world has taken a firm hold on them before they came to terms with their mortality. Obviously those things held onto keep us back from advancing in the kingdom walk. It takes some of us longer than others to realize we lose nothing from that old life because it was never ours to begin with. When Christ did His ALL, then ALL was given unto Him. That concept isn’t understood by babes in Christ or unbelievers, they have to deal with what is holding them back from accepting Christ. In almost all cases that is fear. So I tried dealing with that.
And you did a good job, Larry. I just wanted to share my personal testimony, and I also admit that it is harder for us who have known the Lord Jesus nearly all our lives to be able to put ourselves in “other’s shoes”. I also realize that “fear” is just one of the many reasons, and I am looking forward to you taking up other things, as the Lord brings them before you. Keep up the GOOD work.