MORNING MANNA 5-9-24
THE COST OF OBEDIENCE
“And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:37–39
Dr. J.H. Jowett said, “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.” If we are going to do anything for Christ that truly matters, we are going to have to be willing to make sacrifices and pay the price. This was true for Jesus in His own life and ministry. Though salvation is free to us through His grace, it was purchased at great cost to the Lord. When He was confronted with the test in the Garden of Gethsemane before the crucifixion, Jesus expressed His willingness to submit to the Father’s will and become the sacrifice that would pay for the salvation of all who believe.
Jesus was willing to pay that price, and He expects the same level of commitment from those who would follow Him: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”(Matthew 16:24). The cross is not a metaphor for difficulty—it is a picture of great sacrifice. A man who is carrying his cross to the place of execution has no plans for his own future. He is committed to a course of action that will entail suffering and loss. The Christian life—the life of one who will truly live according to the example of Jesus—is not cheap. But the eternal value that is produced by those who are willing to pay the price is worth all that it costs.
Those who are willing to count the cost and take up the cross will never regret their eternal investment. (Daily in the Word)
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble,Tx
