As a Christian, there is a cost to following Jesus. Is it worth it? What does this mean? In this podcast, we compare the minimal sacrifice to the wonderful blessings that come with faith.

The Cost of Following Jesus ~ Episode 329

According to Scripture, we realize there is a cost to following Christ. The sacrifice can include giving up personal and sinful desires; all of those things will lead us to death. These sacrifices can bring us peace and joy, yet many people who look at Christians and the Christian faith see only the sacrifice, not the blessings.

I may have told you this story, but it bears repeating. In college, I watched a committed Christian friend suffering many trials. I worried about her and silently thought that while I was happy, I knew the Lord and loved Him; I wasn’t the target of what I felt was an attack.

Her parents gave her a new car, and soon after, she was in an accident that wrecked it. She praised the Lord that she wasn’t hurt badly. Then she was often sick because she spent much time in the science lab. Her lab work required her to look at a microscope, which made her nauseous. It seemed like one thing after another after another. I learned so much from her, and my faith grew. I saw how her love of God transcended all of those things.

But, what did people at school think of her? They were confused and puzzled. They believed that if you followed God, all things should be easy. And they are in some ways. As a Christian, we know what is essential.

When we prioritize Jesus above all things, we essentially say that we will deny ourselves and carry our cross in following Him. In Luke 9:23-26 (Read on air.)

And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. ²⁵ For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

This life is not all there is; we have an everlasting life with God. Having everything in this world, all the riches, all the luck, all the things people think are important, we can’t take it with us. We should consider this; each day is a gift and a blessing that we are alive. But we all know we will not live forever. Is our house in order? Do we see what is important, and what do we think could be more important than our faith in God?

When we prioritize Jesus above all else, we must carry our cross and do this daily. Some days are difficult, but do we see it in perspective? Some days, I don’t want to work, I don’t want to participate in the ministry where I am the coordinator, I don’t want to cook or clean or do anything! I want to go on strike from my busy schedule and have a day off. I was purely miserable until I realized it was something I could not change in the short term. So, my days continue, and I carry my cross, whatever that is, and follow Jesus.

Some people are ill, and that is a cross. Some people have to work way past retirement age, which is a cross. Some people have financial difficulties or struggles with personal situations or people. All those things are a cross. Pick up your cross and follow Jesus.

I want to caution you if you are a complainer, and we all are occasionally. Complaining wastes time takes effort, and makes us all around miserable. Focus on the things you can change, do something about this, and leave all the things you can’t change alone.

When we deny ourselves, we become more resolved. As a society, we have become soft; we want what we want, and that has led to a sedentary lifestyle and general overeating, which then can lead to illness as we age. Denying ourselves and fasting occasionally are all good for you. I read a study that said fasting at least one to two days a week improves your health. And Jesus asks us to fast, especially when we pray for something important. Denying our needs in conjunction with prayer can be powerful. Fasting and prayer go hand in hand.

—>Thanks to our sponsor, NowPrograms.com, whose philosophy is to remediate instead of accommodate. Something I’ve been saying for years!

 When we follow Christ, we may lose friends. The cost of following Jesus may lead to strained relationships with family or friends. I have personally lost friends over being “too Catholic.” Is that even a thing? Shouldn’t you be all in when you have faith? Following Christ is not a halfway measure.

Sometimes, it is a material sacrifice; maybe you’ve never given money to a church or a charity, and now you do. Luke 21:1-4 says (Read on air.)

He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; ² and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. ³ And he said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; ⁴ for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had.”

Any material sacrifice we make is not all we have. Sometimes, a material sacrifice may be to not cheat someone out of money or charge too much for something. It might mean returning to a store to pay for an item you inadvertently took out without paying.

None of these things are as difficult as facing persecution. In this context, in some countries, Christianity is being eradicated. This is a great cost, yet it is what people are willing to take.

Following Jesus means changing our lives and adopting values that may require a different way of life. A friend shared that a couple living together attended a service and were convicted to change their life. They stopped living together and worked on learning more about the Lord’s teachings. Luke 9:23 states: “And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

But the joy of following Jesus means everlasting life in heaven with Him! Eternity in heaven as opposed to a temporary satisfaction here on earth? Which will it be?

For those of us who have spent our life following Christ, it is an easy answer. It is a daily “Yes, Lord, yes!” While I’m blessed to have grown up in faith, that may not be the case for some of you listening. Learn more about the Lord, spend time in prayer, and ask the Lord for more faith. These things bring joy that surpasses all understanding and allow me to share the good news with you. I pray that you share the good news with others.

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