...cost

“The surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”

Scripture and history prove that people who make the greatest difference in the world are those who are willing to pay the highest price.

Consider Paul’s reflection on his years of ministry: “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure” (2 Corinthians 11:24–27).

What explains such sacrificial courage?

Paul described his passion this way: “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). He would pay any price to serve the One whose grace saved his soul and redeemed his life.

“Saying ‘yes’ to God’s destiny for our lives”

You and I have gone as far with Jesus as we can go at our present level of sacrifice. So it is with every area of your life. Your portfolio or annuity is all it can be without further investment. Your marriage is all it can be without further commitment of time and energy and passion. You have gone as far at work or school as you can unless you make further sacrifices to make further progress.

What is your next step in worshiping and serving your King? Where does he want more of your time, more of your abilities, more of your money, more of you? What service is he asking you to render? What witness to give? What sin to refuse? What forgiveness to ask or offer?

Curtis Almquist of the Society of St. John the Evangelist: “Surrendering to God’s will can evoke fear in our hearts, raise questions, instill resistance. It can be quite costly or difficult. We may be misunderstood or judged harshly by people surrounding us. And yet, there’s enormous freedom, authority, and joy in saying ‘yes’ to God’s destiny for our lives.”

Will you manifest such joy to your consumeristic culture today?

-jim denison