“Then Peter said: ‘See, we have left all and followed you’.” (Luke 18:28, NKJ)
If you respond to God’s call to a new life with Him, then there are enormous implications for you. We are often seduced by the end-time assumption that there must be something in it for us when making such a big decision and, along with the zeal to make new disciples for the Kingdom of God, we often only present the perks of a new life in Christ to those who are interested – yeah, Jesus is the answer.
But those of us who have walked this path for a long time know that this is not true – there is actually a cost to count for this tabernacle that must be built (Ex 38:21). There is also a cost to count before you take the step to be raised up as a tabernacle. Jesus warned His disciples in Luke 14:28: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost…?”
Jesus made this comment after He stated to His disciples what this new life in Him entails: “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” In John 12:25 He puts it rather strongly: “He who loves his life will loose it”.
To follow Him means that you must be willing to die, to lay down your life, just like He did: “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down for Myself.” (John 10:17-18).
The wonder of a “living sacrifice” (Rom 12:2) is illustrated in a profound way in the Old Testament story of Abraham and Isaac. Often the emphasis is incorrectly only on the father’s wrestle with obedience. Remember: Isaac was a young man in his thirties (probably 33 J) who willingly gave himself to be bound and laid down on wood which he had carried up the mountain. He looked on as his father held the knife to his throat. Isaac had counted the cost – he was willing to die. He had to believe with his father that God could raise him from the dead (Heb 11:17-18)! Are you willing to die and trust your Father for your life?
- Sela: Count the cost if you are willing to make this decision – to die is an absolute pre-requisite for resurrection.
- Read: Gen 9; Ps 9; John 9
- Memorise: John 9:25b
