The Cost
The sermon today was about counting the cost of being a Christ follower and how important it is to go into our relationship with Jesus with our eyes wide open (my words). The entire message was great, but the final point really made a lot of sense to my life and answered some questions that I had for God.
One of the costs to following Christ is the loss of familiarity. When we join God where He is working and decide to follow Him, we may be leaving behind all that is comfortable, or familiar.
In moving from Utah to Wisconsin to become worship leaders at our first church, the obvious things my husband and I left behind were family and friends. The not so obvious things we "lost" was the perceived safety of suburban life and being able to sing/play the type of music that was fun for us.
It was worth it. Why? Because we had to cling tighter to Jesus. He is the only thing that makes the unfamiliar an adventure instead of a trial. And the nice thing is, after a couple years of unfamiliar, God brought new friends, moved family within driving distance, and gave us a drummer to bring excitement to our worship services.
Just when we got comfortable (bordering on stagnant?) God moved us again. Again, we had to leave friends and familiarity, but we were able to remember that God had provided for our needs and would certainly again.
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I’d rather be His than have riches untold
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
I’d rather be true to His holy name
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead
~Rhea F. Miller, 1922
One of the costs to following Christ is the loss of familiarity. When we join God where He is working and decide to follow Him, we may be leaving behind all that is comfortable, or familiar.
In moving from Utah to Wisconsin to become worship leaders at our first church, the obvious things my husband and I left behind were family and friends. The not so obvious things we "lost" was the perceived safety of suburban life and being able to sing/play the type of music that was fun for us.
It was worth it. Why? Because we had to cling tighter to Jesus. He is the only thing that makes the unfamiliar an adventure instead of a trial. And the nice thing is, after a couple years of unfamiliar, God brought new friends, moved family within driving distance, and gave us a drummer to bring excitement to our worship services.
Just when we got comfortable (bordering on stagnant?) God moved us again. Again, we had to leave friends and familiarity, but we were able to remember that God had provided for our needs and would certainly again.
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I’d rather be His than have riches untold
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
I’d rather be true to His holy name
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead
~Rhea F. Miller, 1922
Comments