“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it” Luke 9:23-24, NLT.
Man to man, it will cost you everything to follow Jesus. He will say stand for Me. Love those that purposely hurt you. Forgive when you don’t feel like it. Humble yourself to His timing and surrender to His will.
It will cost you when this company wants you to work for them, but God tells you to work for another. It will cost you when you see this vocation pays so much better, but God says, do what I called you to do where there appears to be no money. She may be beautiful, but God says to look at the heart and not the outward appearance only–not her. There is no telling where Jesus will tell you to follow him to.
You may give up everything, but like Jesus, that’s not your end. Yes, Jesus died, but He rose. Jesus died, but He lives and reigns. You will live and reign also. You may give up what you like, but you will end up with what you love. You may give up your way, but you’ll find God’s way to be much better, for Jesus says His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. You may let her go, but He blesses you with a godly woman fit for you—beautiful inside and outside. The reward is what the devil doesn’t want you to consider. Consider the cost and always pursue to remember the reward that will come from it.
Prayer: Father, I praise You. You are a good God! Thank you for challenging me to follow you, Jesus, no matter the cost. I don’t want it just to sound good, but that I walk in it. May I always consider the reward and keep it before me. No matter what I give up, You will always cause me to receive far greater than I can imagine in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Study: Hebrews 12:2, Matthew 11:30
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