Jesus was truthful about the fact that following Him would cost the disciples everything. But he was also honest about what they would gain [Mark 8:36-37].
Jesus’ desire is to meet people where they are, change them from being ordinary people to people to people who are passionately in love with Him, and take their ordinary lives and give them eternal significance.
In Luke 5 we see Jesus meeting people where they are, with real problems, in their real lives. He takes two frustrated fishermen, under pressure to earn a living, and blesses them with literally a “boat-load” of fish. But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He takes their natural [or “ordinary”] aspirations of catching fish, and paints a beautiful picture of the eternal significance people can have if they choose to follow Jesus. Jesus challenged Peter and Andrew, inviting them to move from being ordinary fisherman to being fishers of men, people who eventually will turn the whole world upside down!
We are full of ordinary dreams. Bigger houses, nicer cars, moving up the career ladder, achieving social status, these are dreams common to many of us. But just as He did back then, Jesus confronts us with a new identity and different destiny. He comes to us and says, I created you for bigger and better things than you have dreamed. I don’t want you to settle for a comfortable life. I want you to experience an extraordinary life!
But Jesus gives us a choice. And He lets us know that following Him is not without cost. Jesus never bribed, manipulated, or begged people into His movement. He clarified the nature of followership many time in the Gospels.
Consider these other accounts of people from the Bible wanting to follow Jesus:
When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no given place to lay his head.” Â —Matthew 8:18-20
Jesus was telling us, It’s not going to be easy or comfortable. Have you considered the fact that you won’t have the comforts of home? Do you really understand what you are saying?
It is interesting to consider when people asked to follow Jesus, He told them to cost, and He was truthful with the discomforts and alienation they would encounter. He left the decision up to them. He didn’t coax, chide, or beg followers. In fact, He left a lot of people behind because the cost was too high. He was left with people who were disciples who considered the cost and knew it was worth it. What they gave up was nothing compared to what they gained. [Check out Matthew 19:16-30 for extra credit.]
Jesus was truthful about the fact that following Him would cost the disciples everything. But He was also honest about what they would gain [Mark 8:36-37]. Following Jesus takes an “all in” type of commitment. It means saying, I will follow… period. Not, I will follow if… For some the cost is too high. However, the benefit is not able to be purchased. It is a priceless gift, one we can’t buy or earn.
Does following Jesus cost you anything? If it doesn’t, you may have to ask why…
Praise the Lord.
It's when I am the most comfortable that I should question my walk with Him. It should always be joy-filled, but it shouldn't always be easy…..
AWESOME!
wow! thank you! i always needed to write on my blog something like that
Being totally honest this hits me center mass, you have no idea how much I needed to be reminded of this. Thank you for being faithful!
You and me both 🙂
examining my walk…. gracias
Yes, following Jesus has cost me many if not all the things I used to have, but the freedom of walking with Jseus has given me freedom from all the bondage/disease I use to have and that is so much more valuable then anything I could have. Thanks Bianca for being faithful, you are a great mentor to me…
Amen and amen!
The theme of Christ's Words to me these past few months have been "follow me." Praying that I will never turn back…. no matter the cost. HE is worth everything. Pray for me to "follow," and not desire to lead my life. Thank you, Bianca, for your obedience to Him.
::Taylor
thanks for posting this ms. bianca…it just affirms what God seems to be speaking in my heart for this season. following Jesus costs us…
i was recently offered a fulll time ministry position in a church in hawaii, but because the church is smaller, i would have to raise my own support team and leave my family, friends, church, my job in LA and be a "full time missionary" in the islands of hawaii.
at first i was very hesitant…then i told God if this is Him…then He has to show me… slowly but surely God began to lead me in a road to adventure…my boss cut my hours at work, there is a possibility of losing my job, i can't even afford to rent my own place anymore.. then i received a $500 gift to scout the land in Hawaii without me asking for it (well i asked God but not people). it seems like He is providing, so im taking steps to see if this is what He wants.
so this april i will be stepping out of the boat and into the water (literally) of Oahu, to scout the land and see if this is the people God wants me to serve for this next season of my life. please pray along with me if you can as i live this adventurous life God seems to be leading me to. gracias mi amiga!
Its almost…funny, that you would post this now of all times.
This week I had to give up everything, my dreams, my family, my best friend, the experience of seeing my loved ones grow, have kids, of being a part of their kids' lives. All for the sake of those who need the Gospel. I found out that was because I'm going to be a full-time missionary for the rest of my life.
And it shocked the life out of me, but I learned something huge.
1. If you choose to live fully for Christ, God is going to require your ALL. And then more. Not just the little things, but things you thought you couldn't live without, things that make up chunks of your heart.
2. No matter the pain and the cost, ultimately I'll get to be with those people forever, but there are those who are currently on their way straight to Hell, and they need the Lord. For them and for Christ it is WELL worth every sacrifice, and God is going to bless the socks off those who give up themselves for Him.
Philippians 3:8
Thank you for this post Bianca, it was an encouragement I needed.
If you think of it, pray for me, for strength and joy.
Words cannot describe how much this post meant to me today. I'm constantly being reaffirmed in so many places as to paying this cost to follow Jesus and be "All In". God's plan isn't always the easiest plan but it is by far the most rewarding! Thanks so much for this today!
Bianca, thank you so much for this post. My word for 2011 is "follow" and lately, I've been asking myself why… this post helped remind me of why. 'Cause my dreams are ordinary, of living life, getting married, having a family, but Jesus has called me to more in this upcoming season and for the rest of my life.
Thank you for being real and reminding me of the reward that comes AS we follow.
Blessings.
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Ben, Thats just one ridiculous example after another. You seem to want to limit our free speech, while justifying others hate and fear mongering as free speech. They are free to spout their lies, misinformation and manipulations, but it should not be in the guise of news or journalism. There are ethics and rules that they should abide by and that others must abide by. Fox News has gotten a pass. But free speech is not the issue, its just a smoke screen so you can keep up this debate. The issue is capitalism, plain and simple. It has nothing to do with hate (unless youre talking about Fox News personalities hate mongering) and it is not I who has blind hate, it is you with your new N word comment. Has that been said here? Nope. Its just a petty jab at people you dont like and youre trying to insert that lame debate here, where it doesnt belong. So, get over the left vs. right BS. This is about Fox News caught, time after time, lying to the public and now, thanks to capitalism, were taking them to task for it.
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