Dear Precious Friends,
On this magnificent Monday we are in Luke 14 of our read a chapter a day of Luke challenge for December following the day of the month (24 chapters, 24 days leading up to Christmas) to draw closer to the Lord during our special season of Christmas.
So once again it is hard for me to pick just one area to feature.. so here are 2...
Once again these thoughts come from Bible Commentaries and devotionals on Luke 14 with input from me.
Following Christ isn’t always as easy as people make it out to be. Have you counted the cost of being a believer?
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Luke 14:28 ESV
This story in the Bible is one of my favorites. This verse is written so simply, yet the picture that it paints, truly is worth a thousand words.
I realize I’ve been a part of making Jesus someone who He is not. I’ve mis-represented His worth by begging people to “ask Jesus into your heart.”
We make it sound so beautiful don’t we? We manipulate others into repeating a prayer by begging them to come to Jesus and telling them how great life will be if they do and how it won’t cost them anything.
A half truth is how the serpent tempted man to sin against God in the beginning. That half truth was a lie and so is the one we present in most altar calls at the end of many church services.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO FOLLOW JESUS?????
This scripture is clear, Jesus is worth everything, but it is also clear that we must believe He is worth everything. We must count the cost to follow this Jesus.
We must ask ourselves before coming to Him, am I willing to give everything I have, if necessary, to follow Him? Am I willing to make Him Lord and give up my desires for His? Am I willing to let go of family and friends that might dislike me because of this man? Am I willing to take a punch without returning one? Am I willing to lay down my life, even to death?
If you’ve asked these questions and desire to follow Jesus, come. Come to Jesus. Take up your cross and follow Him.
If you’ve asked these questions but are afraid and don’t think He is worth it, but you want to believe He is worth it, come. Come and ask Him to show you who He is so you can know Him and find the treasures worth.
If you have asked these question and have decided that what you have is worth more than who He is, just be honest. Renounce faith in Christ and live your life and as you do we pray for God to draw you and reveal His worth to you.
As for me and my house, we have counted the cost and found, Jesus is worth it all.
AMEN!!!! Have a blessed day and please share your thoughts of this amazing passage!!!
