IT COSTS TO BE A CHRISTIAN – WHAT COST AM I PAYING?

“IT COSTS TO BE A CHRISTIAN” is a fact of our faith. “WHAT COST AM I PAYING?” as a follower of Christ Jesus our LORD, is a pertinent question to ask ourselves. Sadly, the Church doesn’t speak much on this matter, and many of us Christians, may never have considered much about it either. Yes, there is a cost to be paid, to be a Christian, by me, by you, and by all who claim to follow the LORD Jesus. The offer of salvation is indeed free, undoubtedly. To continue our walk with our LORD demands a price to be paid, a sacrifice to be made, and which by the way, can be heavy and taxing upon a Christian.

Let us consider some scriptures to know what the LORD says about the cost to be paid, by His disciples. It will enable us to see what we are called into.
1- “WE ARE CALLED TO BEAR THE CROSS” – ARE WE BEARING IT?
– “24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” – “27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” – Matthew 16:24-26; Luke 14:27

2- “WE ARE CALLED TO PLACE GOD FIRST” – IS GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES?
– “37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” – “26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” – Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26

R. C. Sproul expounding the words found in Luke 14:26 says this about  “‘hate’ the parents and family” found in the context of the cost of discipleship.
– “What our Lord was saying in this text was not that we are to despise or abhor our parents, children, or spouses, but that the devotion we have to Jesus must be even greater than what we have for our dearest family and friends.” – R. C. Sproul

3- “THE COST WE ARE CALLED TO PAY IS REAL” – HAVE WE COUNTED THE COST?
– “28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?” – Luke 14:28-30

4- “WE ARE CALLED TO FORSAKE EVERYTHING ELSE FOR GOD” – HAVE WE FORSAKEN?
– “33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” – Luke 14:33

Many have turned away from Jesus because, they have not counted the cost. For many others, the cost of Christian walk was too heavy, so left midway. For some others, the drawing of life in the world was so attractive, that they chose the world, and left the LORD. How about us my dear brothers and sisters? Are we forsaking everything for our LORD? Are we happy and eager to lay down even our very life, for our LORD – the One who willingly and joyfully chose to suffer and die for us on the cross, so that the price for our redemption is paid in full? Would we still follow the LORD, if this is all what is required of us?  

Let us always remember, “IT COSTS TO BE A CHRISTIAN” while asking ourselves everyday, “WHAT COST AM I PAYING?”  Let us seek the LORD to grant us His grace, to walk faithfully and obediently, disregarding the cost we are called to pay. Even so, the LORD help us.