This past year has been one of the toughest and most painful, yet through it all, The Lord asked me will I still choose Him? Will I still praise Him? Will I still honor Him? Will I still trust Him? Will I still love Him? Will I still serve Him? Often we think that life with Jesus means a life that’s easier or free of challenges…but in reality, it may feel even worse than before. The difference is, we have Him to walk us through those storms…knowing there’s something beautiful at the end of it.
When you accepted Jesus into your life, it was like a wedding…you stood before witnesses, you accepted His “yes” to you, you made a vow to commit to Him and say “I Do” for the rest of your life. His word often refers to our relationship with Him like a bride and bridegroom. Christ and the church.
For those wanting to make that commitment to Him, before you decide to accept His proposal and give yourself in marriage to Him, ask yourself have I counted the cost? Have I considered the sacrifice of certain desires, the suffering and persecution that may come, the pain of losing things that no longer serve you, the betrayal of friends and loved ones, the uncertainty of where God is taking you, the loss of your old self? Are you willing to say “yes” and “I do” to Him every day? Through the good and the bad, through sickness and in health, for better or for worse? Forsaking all others…will you still choose Him?
Though it may seem as though you're losing yourself and the things that brought you happiness (and in an essence you are losing your [former] self), the reward is The Lord and His Spirit which is far more valuable than anything else in this world. He fills every empty space, whether it be financial, relational, sense of purpose, peace. Nothing else in this world can offer a permanent enough solution for any of these things. He promises to be the Living Water which never goes empty.
So count the cost, and count the reward. Anything worth living for (Christ) is also worth dying for.
”And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?“ -Luke 14:27-28 NLT
”It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.“ -John 3:29 NLT
”Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless. This mystery [of two becoming one] is great; but I am speaking with reference to [the relationship of] Christ and the church.“ -Ephesians 5:25-27, 32 AMP
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