Parson to person: Count the cost

We all know the saying, 'You get what you pay for.” In other words, quality costs.

When God sent His only Son Jesus to die for all of us, that's the highest price paid. Jesus' life and sacrifice on the cross was paid for you and me.

If Jesus paid the ultimate price for us, how telling is that of how valuable we are in the sight of God.

John 3:16

'For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

God doesn't just love us, He 'so loves” us. So God, in giving up all for us by sending Jesus on this earth, paid the ultimate price. Because of this price paid for us, what then does it mean to truly follow Jesus? Are we able to follow Him and continue to live for ourselves?

Once we make a decision for Jesus we are not only saved from sin but no longer slaves to sin. We are, however, slaves to righteousness, which means we are no longer our own, we are His.

This is why I believe TRULY following Jesus is challenging for some. It's easy to say you are a Christian, love Jesus and hold on to the comforts of everyday living, but what happens when God asks you to give everything up to follow Him? I can't tell you what God is asking you to sacrifice or give up, but what I can tell you is, following Jesus will cost you. You have to know this and you have to be willing to count the cost.

Luke 14:27-33

27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 'Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.”

31 'Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with 10 thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with 20 thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other still is a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Whether you do not know Jesus and are reading this or you do know Jesus and are reading this, take the time to really ask God what He is asking of you, what committing to Him looks like in your life. My prayer is that you won't be content with becoming a Christian until you count the cost and follow Him. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it because Jesus is worthy.