Have we counted the cost? Do we count the cost? Jesus gave us two examples of counting cost: One was of a builder who would know his cost before he started to build so that he could finish the building after he has started it. Another is of a king who is counting the cost of war to see if he can win the war or if he needs to broker peace terms. We make many decisions every day. Do we count the cost? Do we count the cost of our words and actions? Me, I wear a mask in public. When I count the cost of getting sick verses wearing a mask to minimize that risk I took into account first to pray about it, what came to me was the time and misery of being sick, the fact that I have a very high insurance deductible that I can’t pay, I could make others around me sick and cause them harm, I have clients who have cancer and others who have immune disorders, my daughter lives with us and is immune compromised. The list goes on. So the mask seems a really good, cheap choice for me. Then there are many other things we all have to way the cost for like, to buy a car, a house, this dress or that one. The list goes on.
Jesus willingly, knowingly paid the cost to come, to obey His Father God, and to die a horrible death on a cross that we may have eternal life with Him. Jesus paying the price to redeem us still calls us to keep His commandments and walk in His ways.
Will we pay the cost?
Luke 14:26-27 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife, children, brother, and sisters, yes and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Hard words, right? If one of our family members does not believe in Jesus, God the Father, the Holy Spirit we are still to follow Jesus no matter what happens with that family member. No matter how we are treated by that family member. Remember the greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbor. We love by continuing to follow Jesus. To follow Jesus we first have to know His teaching.
John 14:15 If you love Me keep My commandments.
Proverbs 27:12 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.
In other words the wise will heed a warning, will study and get understanding and knowledge and figure out the cost. The simple live mostly by emotions and move through paying the consequences of their actions.
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sin.
