Counting theCost

Have you ever gotten just what you wanted, then realize it didn’t satisfy you like you thought it would? Have you thought you were doing what you were meant to do only to realize it really didn’t suit you? What do you do when this happens?

We often think we know what we want. We see something that looks nice and we pursue it. In many cases, we don’t know much about it, we simply know it looks nice. Or, worse yet, it is a popular thing to desire so we desire it, too.

It can be especially bad, if what we desire is a job that doesn’t fit us. That can turn out very bad if we give up a good job to take it. It can also turn very bad for us if the change costs us lots of money. We become dissatisfied even more. We see all it cost us in money and perhaps in prestige. The cost can be high.

How can we ensure we are making the right decisions? How can we ensure we want to make the right decisions? We can research the item we want to purchase, and we can research the job we want to apply for. Yet, that will only happen if we truly want to make the right decision.

It may be harsh to think and more so to say, but if we aren’t desiring to make right decisions, we are being foolish. Making the wrong decision will cost us. It is only when we realize these truths that we are able to desire making the right decision for our lives.

This is not only true for making decisions about purchases and jobs, it is also true when it involves our eternal lives. It is only when we come to the realization our lives will come to an end one day and there are only two options for spending our eternal lives, that we decide to investigate those options.

There is a cost to everything. That includes the cost on our eternal life. The wise person will count that cost. Making a decision one way will have one cost while making different decision has a different cost. To make an educated decision, we need to spend time looking at the options. We need to look at both short term and long-term costs.

Our best guidance will come from God. As we look to make decisions, we need to spend time in prayer. Through prayer God speaks to us. Prayer must be a two-way conversation. We are to lay out our requests, yes, but we are also to listen.

I pray we all decide to make the right decisions for our lives. I pray we do proper research to educate ourselves. I pray each of us will spend time in prayer, both requesting and listening. Count the costs. Do your research. Educate yourself. Spend time in prayer. Listen for God’s guidance. God will guide you down the right path.

Luke 14:27-28 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

Fear of Authorities

Do you experience fear regularly? What causes you to be fearful? Are you afraid you will get caught doing something you shouldn’t be doing? Are you afraid of the punishment you will receive for doing wrong?

We are used to being punished for doing wrong. As children, our parents punished us for doing something we weren’t supposed to do. Perhaps it was a spanking or sitting in a chair or being grounded or a serious tongue lashing. The punishment was a deterrent for doing bad things.

As we grow older our punishment changes into something entirely different. We find that our employers have a set of rules we must obey, or we may be fired. We fear we may get a speeding ticket if we exceed the speed limit and go by a police car. We also discover there are unwritten social decorum and fear it could cause us to be ostracized if we don’t follow them.

As we go through life, we discover many of these types of laws, rules, and unwritten rules. We find ourselves conforming to them, even if we do so unconsciously. Once we conform to the rules, they become second nature. We don’t think about them anymore.

Did you know that obeying authorities is something Paul wrote about? Paul tells the Roman Christians to obey the authorities and they would not need to fear them. These are the same Roman authorities that didn’t like Christians much and often found any reason whatsoever to punish them, even to the point of crucifying them. If Paul expected the Christians of the day to obey authorities that were looking to punish them, should we make an exception for ourselves today?

Paul expected those he wrote to, the Christians, to obey the authorities appointed over them. You see, Christians are to have a bigger picture view. They know this life is temporary. They know eternal life is coming. They know living forever in God’s presence is such an amazing reward that we cannot even fathom it. So, obeying authorities and bearing some small bit of pain on this earth is more than worth the trouble.

I pray we all understand we are to obey the authorities appointed over us. I pray we decide to be obedient to our parents, our bosses, our governments. I pray each one of us will make a personal commitment to live our lives as Paul expected the Roman Christians. Obey authorities. Do what is expected. Be the example for others. Have no more fear of authorities.

Romans 13:3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.

Peace of Jesus

Do you live in continual upheaval? Are you constantly seeing the world through a troubled viewpoint? Are you looking to change your outlook on life? Are you willing to change? Are you looking for peace? Will you accept the peace Jesus offers?

Our world is full of trouble. It is in constant chaos. There are injustices, upheaval, bigotries, illnesses, war, and threats of war. It seems all we see in the news is arguing, disgruntlement, and negative attitudes. There is rarely a good news story shown.

Though we live in this world, we don’t have to be of the same attitude. We can recognize all the chaos while still living at peace. In fact, we can be at peace while having nearly nothing as possessions. Most of us don’t believe that. We are caught up in the material world.

Jesus offers us the peace we seek. It isn’t easy for us to grasp it due to our continual desire to keep up with the Joneses. Yet when we do grasp this peace, we see the world in a completely different light. We see the brokenness and our hearts break. Yet we don’t desire more for ourselves rather we desire to give others the peace we have, not possessions.

It’s more than an attitude. It’s more than a simple viewpoint. It’s more than a change in lifestyle. It doesn’t include eliminating your possessions. It’s not giving all your money away. The peace of Jesus goes deep into your soul and fills you up.

His peace is a calmness and confidence that God is in control. It’s an assurance that even if this world hurts us, we know we have an eternal life of living with Him. It’s knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves us far more than we can fathom. His peace changes us from the inside out. It changes our viewpoint on life and attitudes, relieves our anxieties and fears, and allows us to see the world as He does.

Here’s the thing, Jesus offers His peace free for the taking. Will we take it? Our first step is being willing to accept it. We must trust Him. We must realize we cannot change everything about this world, but we can live in it with His peace, knowing He is in control.

I pray we all accept the peace Jesus offers. I pray we decide to live in His peace. I pray each one of us will trust God is in control, no matter the situation. Trust Jesus. Accept the peace He offers. Allow His peace to change you.

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Actionable Faith

What do you have faith in? How big is your faith? How deep is your faith? Are you asking yourself if you have faith at all? Do you not know that everyone has faith in something or someone? How do you live out your faith?

Most people associate faith to religion. Though faith is certainly part of every religion, it is also part of every person’s life. We all have faith the sun will rise tomorrow. We all have faith there will be food for purchase at the grocery store. Most of us have faith our parents love us.

As stated earlier, faith is part of every religion. Personally, I’m not a big fan of religion. I do love God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. I love learning more about God and His plan. I love investigating the history of the Bible, knowing about the characters and how God impacted their lives.

One thing the most important characters of the Bible had in common is their faith in God. Each of these characters had an active faith. They didn’t live on belief alone. Belief alone isn’t enough for God nor for us. James tells us in James 2:19 that even the demons believe and shudder.

Our faith must cause us to act. We cannot simply believe and expect to live the abundant life Jesus promised. Faith is belief and action together in combination. What action does our faith cause us to take?

We may step out in faith to pursue a new career, one that we believe God is calling us to pursue. We may step out in faith to walk up to a homeless person and buy them a meal. Our faith may cause us to decide to tithe more to our church or give to a charity.

Our faith is never more challenged than when we are in need. When we are desperate to find a solution to a problem, we often want the problem to go away. It is in times like these that we must rely on our faith, not to take unwarranted risks, but to trust that God will lead us down the path He wants us to take. Putting our faith into action during these times is challenging because God may take us down a path we either don’t want to go or we don’t feel equipped to follow. We must continue in faith with the assurance that God will provide, even if not in the way we would choose ourselves.

I pray we all grow in our faith. I pray we step out in faith to follow where God leads us. I pray each one of us will trust God to provide for us. Step out in faith. If you have belief, allow it to grow into actionable faith. Trust in God. He always provides.

Matthew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Growing in Wisdom

Are you a loner? Do you shy away from large crowds? Do you prefer to be by yourself or perhaps in small groups? Do you use that as an excuse to stay home? Do you use it as an excuse to not attend church?

Some of us are do prefer to spend time by ourselves. We prefer meeting with just a friend or two rather than being in large crowds. We seem to be lost in large groups. Often, we aren’t comfortable walking up to others to start a conversation. In today’s world of social media, that seems to be growing more common.

I’ve taken those personality tests from time-to-time and I’m always indicated as an introvert. For those of us who are introverts, the social media explosion can just exacerbate the issue. We turn further inside and hunker down in our shell. This makes it hard to be sociable when in large crowds.

What can we do about this condition? I’ve found over the years there isn’t much we can do except force ourselves to walk up to someone and start a conversation when in a large crowd, even if it’s about something as passé as the weather. It may sound korny, but we have to force ourselves to take that step.

Why do we need to take that step? We are made by God to be a social people. We need interaction with others. We need to become, at least somewhat, comfortable in large crowds. Enough so as not to be overwhelmed with anxiety in them. Why?

We need to be in a crowd to attend church. You see, we need to go to church. We need to be around other Christians. We can’t be a Lone Ranger Christian. It is by being with other Christians, learning from them, that we grow in our knowledge and understanding of God. As stated in Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Paul tells us it is through the church that God reveals His wisdom. To become wise in God’s Word and to enrich our lives, we need to be active in the church. We need the others in the church and the others need us in the church. We all learn from our interactions with each other. God made us that way.

I pray we all decide to attend church. I pray we decide to gather and discuss God’s Word with one another. I pray each of us will seek to grow in knowledge and wisdom by being an active member of the church. Be with God’s people. Learn from other Christians. Grow in wisdom. Ask God to help you overcome your hesitancy.

Ephesians 3:10-12 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Live for Christ

How do you go about your daily life? How do you live day-to-day? What is your attitude toward living? Have you ever stopped to think about how you approach living your life? Who are you living for? Are you living for and in the Son of God?

We know our lives are busy in today’s culture. We know we are on the go from place to place, whether it’s physical places or virtual places. We know we are tasked to do this and do that and there is always something left undone. Are we just fumbling through each day or are we facing each day with a faith that will give us the strength we need to continue?

We can get bogged down and even overwhelmed by the demands placed on us. Too often, we add to those demands ourselves by not planning properly. We feel pressure from our boss, our family, our friends, or any number of other outside sources to be in multiple places at once. We put pressure on ourselves not to let people down. There is certainly nothing wrong with doing what we can to support others. In fact, we are called to do just that.

How do we continue to go on when we are being worn thin? We must be strengthened by something or someone else. If we are not, we will eventually collapse. What or who do we turn to for the strength we need? There is only One source that will provide us with it.

When we are crucified with Christ and no longer live as ourselves, we gain the strength of Christ. Obviously, this doesn’t mean physical crucifixion. It means we give up our preferences, our desires and focus on the desires of Christ. It means we live with His mindset. It means we live our lives to carry out His plan.

This is difficult for us to do. We are conditioned by our culture to do what we want to do. We are focused on ourselves rather than on God. We are looking to satisfy our wants before we attend someone else’s needs. When we live this way, we are not living for or in Christ.

God offers us a much better life than we can imagine. He offers us a life of love, joy, and peace. He desires us to follow His plan. When we decide to follow His plan, follow Jesus’ way of living, our lives become better than we have experienced before.

The difficulty we have is giving up our wants to satisfy the deeper need we have to live with God. We look at satisfying short term wants rather than satisfying the eternal need. Yet, when we focus on our eternal need, we find our short term wants are satisfied beyond what we hoped for.

I pray we all decide to live our lives for Jesus. I pray we determine to live in Him. I pray each of us seek His plan for our lives. Live for Christ. Live in Him and allow Him to live in you. Have faith in Jesus. Know that He gave Himself up for you. Give yourself up for Him.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Ready at All Times

Are you ready at all times? Do you take time off from being ready? Are you looking forward to the day? Will you be ready if the day is today? Do you consciously think about being ready or simply stumble along?

Jesus tells us to be ready at all times. He states that we don’t know when we will meet Him face-to-face. No, I don’t believe He will come back riding on the clouds today. I do believe His warning for us is real.

Having recently finished leading a Bible study on the book of Revelation, I do not believe we are in the end times. The chaos we see in our world today is a drop in the bucket compared to what Revelation says will come prior to Jesus returning riding on a cloud.

I do believe Jesus truly meant we could meet Him on a moment’s notice. I believe what He was referring to is that we could find our time on this earth is up at any moment. We may say that, but I don’t believe we really believe it. Yet there are many reasons why it may come true.

We don’t talk about death much in our culture. Other cultures do, but we avoid it. Why? It is as natural as catching a cold. Each one of us will face it. Each one of us will go through it. When we do, we will face Jesus face-to-face or be held for judgment. If we are followers of His and ready to see Him, we will be with Him in heaven. If we are not His followers, we’ll be sent to Hades to await judgment. Hades is not Hell. It is a place of spiritual holding.

We are to be ready at all times. Jesus tells us we don’t know when the heart God gave us will stop. No, that is not a fatalist point of view, rather it is a realist point of view. Jesus will be there waiting for us. Do we want Him to welcome us with open arms or turn His back on us?

Folks, there are only two options when we leave this world. You don’t get a second chance. There is no reincarnation to work your way into His favor. We cannot believe the false teachings we hear. We must read our Bible and be able to discern sound teaching. We must be ready at all times.

I pray we take time to evaluate our current standing. I pray each one of us decides to be a follower of Jesus Christ. I pray we all are ready at all times. Be ready when your time comes. Be the servant waiting for the master to return. Look forward to the day you will go to heaven. Jesus has promised it and He keeps His promises.

Luke 12:35-38 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.”

Be Like Jesus

Do you seek revenge? Do you look to pay someone for treating you badly in like manner? Do you heap insult upon insult in repayment for someone insulting you? Or are you willing to love the person instead?

We see much repaying evil for evil in our culture today. It seems to be all around us. Too often, we allow ourselves to be caught up in it as well. If we were to open our eyes, we would see that we are seeking revenge. Not only are people repaying evil with evil, but often repaying with more than they received.

Isn’t it funny? We can see this is everyone else, but not in ourselves? We fail to take time to think before we react. We fail to take time for some introspection. We fail to look in the mirror at ourselves. Yet, we will complain about the other person who does the same.

We are called to something different entirely. If we are to be the light in this world, we must be different than this world. We are called to be like-minded with other Christians. In order to do that, we need to read and study our Bibles. We need to understand God’s plan, which comes from His Word.

We are to be sympathetic with those who are suffering. Jesus provides us several examples of being sympathetic. Many times, His sympathy was displayed along with sorrow and a heavy heart that wept for those who suffered.

We are to love one another. This is an action word. We are to show our love through actions, being there for one another. We are to show our love for our fellow Christians first, then to the world. We are called to a brotherhood, sisterhood that cannot fail.

We are to be compassionate toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. That compassion is to drive us to support each other. It should cause us to wrap our arms around those who need our comfort.

We are to be humble. Being humble doesn’t mean we must allow people to push us around. It does mean we let go of our pride and submit to obeying God. We are to be willing to go where God calls us to go and do what He calls us to do.

I pray each one of us will take on being who God has called us to be. I pray we all look to follow Jesus’ example. I pray we become the light in this world God has called us to be. Be like Jesus. Be of Christian mind. Be sympathetic. Love one another. Be compassionate. Be humble. Submit to God. You will reap a great reward.

1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Adapting and Saving

Do you adapt to different situations? Are you willing to change your language, attitude, and body language to reach someone who is different from you? Are you aware of the differences you come across? Do you take offense at the differences or look at them as an opportunity?

As normal human beings we are most comfortable around other people who are like us? Usually, that means the environment in which we grew up. It may mean being around people in the same profession. When we are thrown into large groups, we will seek those we think will make us most comfortable. This is human nature.

If we continue to follow this pattern, will we learn anything about someone who is different? Notice I didn’t say the other person was weird or odd or strange or any other word to describe them. Too often we think of those words when someone is different. We would be much better off to think of the other person as different and look at it as an opportunity to learn something from them.

When we look at it as an opportunity and ask questions regarding their culture or background, we gain insight. We can then apply that insight to our behavior while we are with them. This leads to another great opportunity—telling them about Jesus.

Paul approached each culture in that manner as he traveled what we call the Middle East and parts of Europe. He certainly ran across different cultures, different languages, and different backgrounds. He adapted to each situation in order to bring them the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul also had a sense of urgency. He knew with certainty there are only two options for someone in eternal life and that choice is made while living on this earth. He understood that Jesus came to save the lost and Paul’s mission was to compel as many as possible to be saved.

We have the same mission today. No, we may not be Paul. But we are to tell people about Jesus and convince them to make the decision to be His follower. We also need to have a sense of urgency. We also need to adapt to the situation we find ourselves in. Jesus is counting on each of us to work for Him.

I pray we learn to adapt to our situations. I pray we all decide to stop seeing others as strange and look at it as an opportunity to learn. I pray each of us take on a sense of urgency to tell others about Jesus. Adapt to the situation. Learn from others. Seek opportunities. Speak the gospel. Save the lost.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Unite With God

Who do you support? Who do you stand with? Do you stand with family? Do you stand with friends? Do you stand with co-workers? Do you stand with any number of other groups we see in our society today? Do you stand with God?

We see people divided into more groups in our society today than ever before. Not only are we divided, but we are so passionate about our position that we are unwilling to listen to another point of view. We see groups who are willing to hurt their own cause in order to make a point.

We see it in groups that either believe we need to wear masks or not wear them. We see the divide on race. We see it in division over whether to fund or defund our police forces. We even see it in owners versus players in Major League Baseball. I’m sure many of us could continue to name more divisions among people as well.

Unfortunately, all this division is happening within our beliefs. Just when we were starting to see multiple denominations starting to work together to further God’s kingdom, we now see people within the same church working against each other. This goes against everything God and Jesus teach us.

If we are unwilling to talk with each other in a calm and logical manner, what do we expect but division? In a time such as this, our churches need to be even more united than ever before. We need to do our research, we need to read, we need to study, we need to be the sanity in the chaos. God does not sow confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Have we, as Christians, forgotten that we can make a difference, if we stand united? We don’t need to stand physically shoulder-to-shoulder. We can stand virtually shoulder-to-shoulder. We can use the tools and technologies that God provided to make a positive difference.

Perhaps we have been slow to adopt technologies in our churches, thinking they are the devils’ doing. Perhaps we have lumped them into the same boat our parents or grandparents lumped contemporary Christian music. Perhaps we need to learn from history and learn to use them to unite our people, making our churches stronger than ever before. Perhaps God is tired of us ignoring them and is now forcing us to use them.

Jesus used parables to teach during His time on earth. He used language and examples of the time to communicate to people. Should we not use today’s methods of communication to reach more people? I believe we should. Let’s stand with Jesus in our time with our tools.

I pray we all decide to read, research, and study God’s Word. I pray we are determined to stand with Jesus. I pray each of us will use the tools at our disposal to reach people. Unite with God. Unite with Jesus. Use what God has made available to you. Reach others for Jesus.

Romans 6:5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.