Count the Cost

Luke 14:26-28 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (KJV)  

At first glance one sees the word hate and asks themselves what about this loving God I have heard so much about? The word hate means to love less, so basically the question being asked is ‘what are you going to pursue from this point on, the things of God or the things of man?’ What is it that may be hindering my walk? Or as the Lord is asking, ‘who is it that may be a hindrance to my walk; is there someone close to me that is not close to the Lord, and has no desire to be close to Him, which if not dealt with could pull me under as well?’ Are there some close to you that have more of an influence on you than God does? Someone you may love as well who is not willing to follow the Lord, and may be holding you back from moving forward?  

Luke 9:24-25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. (25) For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (KJV)  

What are you willing to do to inherit eternal life? Jesus Christ went to the cross and died for the sin of the world so that we could inherit eternal life. If we are going to follow in His footsteps there are certain things, as well as certain people close to us, that we need to die to if we are going to inherit eternal life also. So what profit is it to you to hang onto the things or people of this world, if it costs you an eternity separated from the Father? Time to do an internal inventory, the turmoil in your life, something that is not sitting right with your spirit man, it may be someone so close to you and yet so far from the things of God.  

Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. (KJV)  

Just because you got saved and decided to live for God, doesn’t automatically mean that everyone else close to you is going to make the same decision. In this case one doesn’t need to look to far to find there is opposition already, as verse 36 points out, right in one’s own household. So if there is not peace anymore, if you are finding opposition close to home, you need to take the time to hear God on what to do, then count the cost for what you need to do to stay close to Father. Don’t take it personal if others around you don’t have the same interest as you do for the things of God, but heed the warning.  

Matthew 12:47-50 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. (48) But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? (49) And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! (50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (KJV)  

We are adopted into the family of God, a new creation in Christ, old things are passed away. The Lord Himself when asked to identify His true family in Christ gave an answer based on the spiritual and not the physical lineage. Do you know who your true family is, those that are willing to take a stand for the word of God, no matter what the cost?  

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: (2) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (3) And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (KJV)  

We wonder at times, ‘Lord why don’t you use me more, or does my walk seem stagnant, like walking a treadmill, exerting energy but not moving forward’? To those that God uses, to those that much is given too, much is required as well. So if the Lord is calling you as He did Abraham, and wishes to bless you also, will you be willing to do whatever it takes to please Him, or will you stay put and try to please man instead? It doesn’t  matter who it is or how close they are to you, if it is not healthy to you spiritually, if it is not building you up but rather holding you back, move on or Father will move on and find someone else to bless as well.  

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (KJV)  

I don’t see the word might, maybe, or possibly in the sentence above. Evil companionship will corrupt the good that was started within you unless you do what is required to stop it, and cut off those lines of communications.  

Those of you that are bound and determined that a husband or wife are going to make you complete, seal the deal, you are setting yourselves up for a big fall if you end up with a deadbeat. I have seen many literally toss the dice, hoping that the person they become infatuated with will turn into a Christian someday, rather than making it a requirement before they say ‘I do’. There is a big difference between who God joins together, and what we consider a suitable mate. So watch out, that person you just can’t live without, may be just a tool of the devil to keep you from a true and intimate relationship with God as well.  

It’s an eternal price to be paid for those that end up deceived. Count the cost.  

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.