What has it cost you to follow Jesus?

During the high school summer camp, Zach Vestnys, lead pastor from Calvary Chapel Petaluma, talked much about the cost of following Jesus Christ. He explained that if your relationship with Christ has cost you nothing, it is likely worth nothing. There were four questions given to us for a group discussion and I found them thought provoking and a profitable challenge:

• What has the cost of your Christianity been thus far?
• What price is God calling you to pay to pursue Him in a deeper relationship?
• In what ways has your life shown evidence of spiritual transformation?
• What trials have you gone through that God has used to change you?

I challenge you to honestly seek God for the answers of these questions. All men have been created for the glory of God and we naturally cannot obtain this purpose through self-effort or any means through our flesh. Perhaps you fall short of your purpose because you are not willing to pay the price that God demands: denying yourself, taking up your cross daily, and following Jesus. Micah 6:8 says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Believer, God requires much of you and through His Spirit has given you the ability to obey Him through His power. Have you walked in obedience to His Word? Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Count the cost of following Jesus and you will see that the cost is small compared to the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.