THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

LUKE 9.57-62.

Better be prepared to go to God alone with the weight of your cross. It is true salvation has been granted us free of charge, but going to heaven will require some active energetic participation from you. Carrying your cross every day, denying yourself everyday, walking a righteous life are part and parcel of the game.

Though you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and  a holy nation , the cost of following Jesus is demonstrated in how you declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Jesus puts it succinctly clear Luke 9.26 for whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory and in his father's and of the holy angels..

Carrying the cross is one of the symbols of following Jesus. Notice it is not just an issue of carrying a piece of something, but embracing the love of God both in word and deed daily. As 1 Peter 2.11 puts it, "MY ACTIONS SHOULD MATCH MY WORD ". Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul. Could there be a struggle in your walk with Christ in the area of your attitude, character or general well being and behavior? As you stand before the mirror of the word of God, what reflection do you see? Paul in Romans 8.35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?, Shall tribulations or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?" Dear child of God, what is this that has come between you and your walk of faith that is hindering you follow Jesus?

Paul considers all the tragic scaring as they may seem that are bound to derail our walk with Jesus, the Lord of glory. Are you undergoing troubling times and hardship experience, persecution of the just luck of provision? These the times to push hard. This is the time to pray until something happens. The man who conquered before us never had rosy all through.Elijah after calling from heaven found himself next holding in the cave. David had not long been crowned king, than he found out what it means to be favored of God. Saul tormented him properly. And what about Paul, Corinthians. 11.25, "Thrice was I beaten rods, once was I I stunned thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and day , I have been in the deep.

Following Christ has a cap cast on it. This involves my life. I must be ready to die in the natural just as Christ died and resurrect just as Christ resurrected from the dead. Before I go to Paul kindly walk with me through the requirements by Jesus himself to follow him.It is not just a matter of identifying with this name, but taking practical steps to talk the talk and walk the talk. You cannot follow Jesus for convenience, for a feel good experience or to pursue personal selfish fulfillment. For a serious following of Jesus, there must:-
1. Personal sacrifice
2. Total denial  of self ad the rest, remember what he told his mother and brothers.
3. Commitment to live by the standards of the word pf God.
4. Surrender totally without any destruction, loosing self to the instruction and direction.
5. Be an imitator of God. Ephesians 5.1-2
6. Live in the light, a changed life, Ephesians 4.17

Paul gives a living personal account of himself. There are things that will happen to you simply because you follow Jesus. Just as they say, necessity is the mother of invention. Challenges will be availed your way to prune you and prepare you to meet the opportunity awaiting you. This will be paid with your life, resources and much more. You cannot follow Jesus , for a feel good experience, please someone or even lure someone. As it were, do you really know who called you? Do you know He is the original who is in the business of producing originals?
Paul takes us through, hair raising experiences.He call them the training grounds. This is the how recruits are turned from civilians and turned into professional soldiers. Sometimes the training is so rigorous that other recruits tend to slip out and run-away. How prepared are you to undergo to undergo the training?. Amazingly after undergoing some pains, Paul declares that some occurred more  than 3 times and others 5 times. You may wonder why all this? But this is how God refines us.gold.There is a lot of heating, panel beating, refining, polishing before a final product is laid out on the shelf for display

For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us in advance to do. Following Jesus calls for perseverance James, the brother of Jesus exhorts us to count it all joy when we fall in diverse trials and temptations;For this has a positive side to it. The testing of our faith is what helps us develop, grow and understand perseverance. Perseverance is that state in which the gold withstands the hot temperatures, knowing that after all it is jut a matter of time and I will be refined, polished and shining. When displayed on the shelves, the allure to be with me cannot be withstood even at any dear price. And when purchased , I will be treasured and kept securely. This is who you are in Christ Jesus. Believe it, practice it and follow it .There is no turning back. After all the pillar that were the wife of Lot is warning enough.

Amen!