Jesus — Clearing the Temple - Friday
TODAY’S VERSE
Luke 14:28a
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?” (ESV)
About 10 years ago, we moved a mile down the road and bought a bit of a fixer-upper. While parts of the house had immediate needs, some parts just weren’t my preference and needed cosmetic updates. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and love to feed people, so that was at the top of my list, but it really wasn’t essential. It wasn’t until last year that we made it to the kitchen update!
My new kitchen is beautiful, very functional, and better than I had hoped for, but we had a budget to stick to. We had to plan and make choices. The things that were most important became priorities, and consequently, I had to let some other things go and settle for cheaper options.
Scott talked this week about how we as Christians have to remember that we are saved, not soft. Hopefully, you have seen the signs at all our campuses that say “We are gritty disciples committed to following Jesus, no matter what.” That means, following Jesus costs us something; it’s not just about sitting back and listening to a sermon every once in a while to make us feel good about ourselves.
You have probably noticed that while we are seeing young people come back to the Church, our culture in general is becoming more polarized and hostile towards Christians, the Church, as well as Jesus and His message. Over the history of our country, it has been fairly easy to be a Christian, and it hasn’t cost very much to be a believer, but it seems like that is shifting.
Are you ready for that change? Have you trained yourself, and are you willing to count the cost of following Jesus in a culture that will potentially hate you for it?
2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God gave us His Word for “training in righteousness.” Training isn’t passive—we can’t watch someone else train and receive any benefit.
Just like my beautiful new kitchen isn’t worth much if I don’t cook in it, you have to use what God has given you. Know His Word, practice obedience, and when hard days come, you can know you have counted the cost and are trained and ready to follow Jesus no matter what!
APPLICATION
Choose one thing you have believed in theory about following Jesus, but have yet to put into practice. Start your training today!
PRAYER
Father, help me to see where I need to grow and be strengthened and trained for what is ahead. Help me not to be comfortable just being a consumer at church, but to contribute by putting Your Word into practice.