We cry, "Abba, Father"

 Another Appliance Saga

You may have read about my dishwasher drama. It is finally installed and working well…BUT now my washing machine is kaput. This is according to the appliance repair guy. He also says that all the new washing machines except the commercial grade ones, are poorly made and unreliable. That’s not exactly the words he used, but that is the meaning. So, I’m stuck trying to decide which brand to buy. I took 4 loads of laundry to the laundromat yesterday. I spent $49 in quarters to wash and dry 4 loads. I did go to the newer, cleaner laundromat, so that may have affected the price, but FORTY-NINE dollars?!? I’ve been counting the costs, and the laundromat quarters aren’t the only factor. The cost for the repairman to tell me my washing machine wasn’t worth repairing was over $100. Then, from my experience, they have to order parts and then there’s labor. So every time I have to call a repair person, that costs money. The cost of a washing machine that is not dependable may be greater than the cost of one that I can trust to last longer and comes with a longer guarantee. I’m seriously considering the more expensive but more reliable brand, but something in me balks at the thought of spending that much money. Are the benefits of a better washing machine worth the cost? All this made me think about the cost and the benefits of following Jesus. A life without Jesus doesn’t require the cost that comes with our commitment to relationship with Him, but is worthless and undependable, like the poorly made washing machines. Following Jesus has greater costs but comes with greater benefits and a guarantee for eternal life in Heaven. 

The cost of following Jesus.

Luke 14 (HCSB)

25 Now great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them: 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

28 “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him, 30 saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with 20,000? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple.

The cost of following Jesus involves a total commitment. Jesus takes priority over everything in our lives. He has paid the price for us, a much greater price for a much greater purchase. He is worthy of a total commitment to Him.

Luke 9 (HCSB)

57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

When we follow Jesus, He takes priority over financial security, family relationships, comfort, heritage, physical safety, health, heartbreak. Everything. He takes priority over everything.

Matthew 10: 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,

    a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Following Jesus means that our worth is in Him. Not in status, education, intelligence, possessions, family, peace.  If any of these things are more important to us, then we are not worthy of Him. As I typed that, it sort of hurt my heart. But these are His words. And when we look closely, we can see that He is worth the cost.

1 Corinthians 3 (HCSB) 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Our obedience to Him in everything is the cost of gold, silver and costly stones that are built on the foundation of Who He Is. Obedience may mean leaving family, giving sacrificially of our money and time, being humble and contrite, serving without notice or appreciation. But when we follow Him, we KNOW that HE is worth all the costs. All of them. 

Acts 5 (HCSB) 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

The cost of following Jesus may mean that we are scorned, disgraced, avoided. I have never suffered persecution like some people throughout history and even today suffer. For many of us the “persecution” we suffer is minor, things like strained relationships. Isn’t the word used interesting here? The disciples rejoiced because they suffered disgrace. Their disgrace was a flogging and public humiliation because of the grace that they had received from Jesus. The grace of Jesus is always worth the disgrace from people.

The Worth of Following Jesus

Scripture tells us that we are to walk worthy of our calling. Walking worthy is simple yet involves obedience, commitment, submission to Him, humility. Walking worthy is not being good or doing good things. Walking worthy is about our relationship with Him and allowing Him to work in our lives. We can’t walk worthy in our own power or our own efforts. Walking worthy is God’s Spirit working in us. 

Ephesians 1 (HCSB) 1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

The Price He Paid

1 Peter 2 (HCSB) 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 

 

2 Corinthians 5 (HCSB)  21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Revelation 5 (HCSB)  9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll

    and to open its seals,

because you were slain,

    and with your blood you purchased for God

    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

    and they will reign on the earth.”

 

Jesus paid the price for our salvation. He, God Himself, bore our sin to the cross as the Perfect Sacrifice to pay our sin debt. 

The Benefits of Following Jesus

Hebrews 10 (HCSB) 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

We have confidence that we can draw near to God. We have assurance that we are cleansed from our guilt.

Philippians 3 (HCSB) 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Having the gift of forgiveness and relationship with Christ Jesus is worth any and every cost in following Him. because we have His righteousness, not our own. We know Him. Yes, we participate in His suffering, but we also know the power of His resurrection. 

I still don’t know what I will do about a washing machine, but I absolutely know that following Christ Jesus is worth the cost.