My Apologies-I Did Not Count the Cost
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
I can't think of anything worse than starting out to do something really important and finding myself struggling to complete it. Maybe you have been there. Perhaps you did not realize the energy, time, and money it would cost to complete.
Jesus talked about intentions without counting the cost.
Jesus said, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has [enough] to finish [it]-- "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see [it] begin to mock him, "saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' - Luk 14:28-30 NKJV
These words have been bugging me for some time. In October of last year, my husband and I entered into an agreement with God to move our church location. Our new location would be a storefront. We would be moved out of the business condo-type locations for the first time in ten years and placed in front for everyone to see.
Out of comfort. Out of reliable. Out of the known and into the unknown.
Exciting. Scary. Expensive. Unnerving.
We set a move-in date on three occasions, and last week we were supposed to have our grand opening. None of them happened. Each time we encountered a delay. I realized the warfare was much more than I first thought.
We had absolutely no idea what the cost would be as we ventured out. Had we known, we probably would not have done so, as it would seem like a truly unwise move. But with God, all things are possible. And, without faith, it is impossible to please God.
While meditating on the events we were dealing with and whether we should have made this choice, I was reminded of the time when Jesus sent out His disciples. He sent them in pairs and did not tell them to take everything they needed. Instead, He told them to take their faith and go. Their needs would be provided for by the people they blessed.
Jesus said, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. ..... 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ - Lk 10:1-9
Jesus sent His disciples out to where He was about to go. They had nothing with them except their clothes and shoes. They went by faith to preach the gospel and heal the sick.
We, too, have gone out to preach the gospel and heal the sick. We took with us what we had and believed that God would do miraculous things to meet our needs along the way, as well as supply them through others.
He did. He has. He will.
The distractions of the move and buildout kept me from my writing, so you may have noticed that I have not released any new blog posts or podcasts for May up to this point. I apologize.
I truly did not count the cost of my time and energy being poured into this building. It cost me and my husband everything. Salvation is free, but there is a cost to laying down our lives.
Serving Jesus will cost you everything. When Jesus taught about a man building a tower without counting the cost, he also said no king goes to war without making sure he could win. Jesus' point in this message was that there was a cost to walking with Him.
26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ... 33 "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. - Luk 14:26-27, 33 NKJV
Sometimes we don't know what it will cost us, but we take a step of faith, close our eyes, and trust that if we fall, God will catch us. Faith is the currency of heaven. Without it, we can't buy anything. We trust that when nothing goes as we planned, it doesn't mean it is not His plan.
I really like the song "Here Again" by Elevation Worship. He sings about not going back and God being in the middle. He continuously says, "The Lord is in this place." I have learned to speak that over every situation I don't understand. Lord, You are in this place! Help me to remember that in every valley, as a child of God, I am never alone. He is always in that place.
If you are called to do something impossible for the kingdom of God - do it. Don't bother looking at all the "I can'ts or not enoughs," they will always be there. God has what you need if He indeed sends you out. Stand firm on your yes and don't complain. The Israelites went on an adventure to their promised land. They left everything they knew to set out and get what God had for them. They left the known, even though it was bondage; it was known. It was comfort. It was manageable. Had they not left, their children would not have received the inheritance. If you are afraid to go for yourself, do it for your children.
Let's pray,
Heavenly Father, I have chosen surrender. I give You my life. It is not mine any longer. Take what You desire. Use me as You wish. Send me where You say. Give me the strength, courage, and boldness to always say yes, even when it will cost me everything. In Jesus' name, Amen
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