The Cost

Yesterday in church, the man speaking didn't really preach a sermon, but a couple things he said stuck with me. One was Luke 14:26-27.

"If anyone come to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sister, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."

This is something I've really been struggling with grasping probably since March - after I returned from my first visit to Kars. 

I have to hate my mom, dad, brothers, sisters, friends, life here in Arizona, etc. Now hate does not mean loath or repulse like we immediately think. It means that we have to love God more than these other things and place Him first...something that can be REALLY easy to do in words only. 

Since being home, I've really had to grasp what it means to hate my family and my friends and my church here. I would love to stay here! But that's not what I'm called to right now. I'm called to be overseas, so I have to give up those other things, showing God that I really do love Him more and will take up my cross and follow Him.

Please don't get me wrong: I'm not saying that moving overseas and leaving everything behind is what God has called everyone to, and I'm not saying that my living overseas is by any means more difficult than what God has asked you to sacrifice to follow Him. Any sacrifice is difficult; are you willing to make that sacrifice to follow Him? My heart is apparently very rebellious to this idea because 5 months later, God is still working on this in me. It's not easy to sacrifice, just ask the Father.

The next verse in Luke 14 says this according to the New Living Translation:

"But don't begin until you've counted up the cost."

There is a cost to following Christ. Is it worth it? Are we willing to pay that?

Thanks to my sister, Erin, I've been introduced to a new band: Rend Collective Experiment. Currently, their song "The Cost" is my theme song, running through my head often...it's fitting since this is one of the things I'm struggling with right now. I challenge you to examine your life, asking yourself if He is worth the cost and if He is, does your life reflect the necessary changes. May He work in our hearts and mold us to be more like Him, being willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for His kingdom.

"The Cost"

by Rend Collective Experiment

I'm saying yes to You
And no to my desires
I'll leave myself behind
And follow You

I'll walk the narrow road
'cause it leads me to You
I'll fall but grace
Will pick me up again

I've counted up the cost
Oh I've counted up the cost
Yes I've counted up the cost
And You are worth it

I do not need safety
As much as I need You
You're dangerous
But Lord You're beautiful

I'll chase You through the pain
I'll carry my cross
'cause real love
Is not afraid to bleed



I've counted up the cost
Oh I've counted up the cost
Yes I've counted up the cost
And You are worth it

Jesus
Take my all
Take my everything

I've counted up the cost
And You're worth everything