The Price

Walking with God comes at a price. And for some, that price is just too high.

A conversation brtween two men. One wanting to know how to have eternal life, the other wanting to know if the first has the heart for his desire.

Sell everything, give to the poor, then follow... The price was laid out, it was too high for the first man, he walks away sad...

To give up what we are and to follow, this is the price! Some call it the "laid down life".

Some say that a relationship with God or a simple belief in God is a crutch used by the weak. That may be so, but God is gentle. And He makes strong, the weak. And that is better than any feat of human strength.

The price is the same for all, some just perceive it differently.  See, we all have to turn over our lives to God. Let Him be in control of our destiny. And for some, that is simply too hard to do.

To pay the price and lay down our lives requires intentionality. We have to be willing. And being willing makes us humble. See, God opposes the proud.

God is standing there, at His front gate, day in, day out, watching, waiting for  a glimpse of a smelly, dirty person to come staggering up the road, muttering to themselves, "I've sinned and not worthy of being Your son/daughter..." God sees that person, and before they know what's happened, they're inside having food shoved into their mouth, being scrubbed from head to foot, being measured for new clothes, and being given on the job training in their new line of work! All because they came to God humbly.

But it shouldn't stop there. Part of the price is to follow. To follow directions, to follow God. To follow the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit. To follow. This simply meams that you put aside your desires for your life and grab hold of Gods desires for your life. Easier said than done! This requires intentionality.

And let me say this. The moment you decide you are going to walk this path, that is the minute that you'll loose some friends, however, you'll gain new ones alomg the way. You'll become sn offense to some, and you'll be just what the Dr. ordered for others. Things you did that maybe you probably shouldn't be doing, you'll decide to stop. Things, actions, attitudes that were perfectly tolerable before, womt be quite so tolerable now, and some will prove themselves to be a rather nasty stench up your nostrils.

This path, when ypu decide to walk down it... it will lead you closer to God. You'll have a deeper understanding of yourself, God and maybe some things around you. But by walking this path, you will be issuing a challenge to all who know you. Some will tolerate you, some will walk away from you, others will hold your hand and support you. This is not an easy road. Jesus Himself says that the path is narrow and few find it! Sounds to me like a quiet and possibly lonely path. That is the price. To forsake all else for the sake of Christ.

And boy what a road it is. Thrilling, terrifying, exhilarating, all at the same time! And I've only just started down this road.

You can be saved, but not be changed. You've got to make the decision to walk this road. It aint gonna walk for you. And if you're concerned about all the things you'll loose along the way - think of the things you'll gain.

So you decide to no longer tolerate that "friend" who comtrols you and manipulates you for their benefit. They walk away from you because you are no longer viable for their cause. You find that in their place you have several friends who care about you and have whats best for you in their hearts.

What you loose, God calls filthy rags, and He gives robes of righteousness as a replacement. So you no longer look and smell like a dirty forgotten slave who is begging for bread. You are clean, you are in the Kings palace and you have been adopted into His family, that makes you royalty. Choosing to follow, would be the best choice you can ever make. All it takes is a little bit of willingness for that first step.

May Gods blessings shower down upon you. And may you be coated in the dust of your Rabbi!

Australian Watcher On The Wall
http://australianwatcheronthewall.blogspot.com.au