Paid and Paying – the ongoing cost of following Jesus

When you hear the phrase, “count the cost of following Jesus.”  You may think of the initial effort that led you to salvation.   You had to choose between a life of sin, which seemed attractive in it’s pleasures and freedoms, or choose a life that is submitted fully to Jesus Christ our Lord.  As it turns out, the sinful life was the prison!  So the cost was really no cost at all and following Christ was well worth it.

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Today I’m writing about something the Lord helped me to remember recently.  The ongoing costs of following Jesus.
As we learn about the great love of God and experience his love and power in our lives, we are changed.  We are slowly transformed and renewed in our thinking then we turn ourselves outward to bless others.
Two of the commandments given by Jesus are in Matthew 22:37-40 “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
What does this love look like?  Read 1 Corinthians chapter 13.   Jesus did all these things.
When I think about the Love God showed in Christ – he did something amazing by paying the ultimate cost.  He saved the world.  Now all who believe in him, call upon his name and follow him can be set free from the mystery and fear of death.    He went out of his way to suffer and bless us.  And still to this very day most people do not appreciate what he has done.  They don’t care.  Even when Jesus was in Jerusalem trying to teach people about him, many rejected him.  He did all that he could, even dying on the cross, and only a small group of people appreciated it.
But soon his love gave power and inspiration to the disciples.  They loved others in God’s love, going out of their way to help others, and soon more and more people came to Jesus through them.  They continued to pay the price that love demands.
I thought about us today.  What price are we willing to pay to love others?
– Sometimes we have to give up our rights, our right to a day off or our right to rest.
– Sometimes we have to open up our homes and invite others in
– Sometimes God leads us to love someone, spending time, food and money in order to show them the love of Jesus Christ – even if they don’t appreciate your effort.  But God does.
– We are called to spend time in prayer, significant time, in order to see others saved.
– Sometimes God leads us to pray in extended spiritual battle.  Especially against the plans and schemes of the “evil one” as his plans are revealed to the saints.  We pray until the Lord declares victory.
– Sometimes we are led to spend time in prayer and fasting.  This helps us to gain spiritual strength, discernment and gives confidence to the authority we already have in Christ.
Wow, there are many costs!    Our freedom is now bonded to God.
Read Romans 12:9 – 21.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
(Luke 9:23)
Let’s go out of our way to love, serve and build up others. It’s not just a pastor’s job.  It is the calling of every Christian.
I’m in!  I may not be perfect at it… but I’m in.
-MF
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Future Posts:
* Working with God and not just being his slave.
* When your love for others means walking away from them.

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