How In Losing Something, We Gain All We Need
There’s an inevitable cost to following Jesus, but this is where it gets good
Trying out new hobbies is always fun at first but as you get more serious about it there’s often a greater cost involved.
For instance, going to the gym may be exciting at first but if you want to get stronger and hit certain goals, you’re going to have to invest money in a personal trainer or equipment and you’re going to have to dedicate more time to it.
It’s the same in our relationship with Christ.
We may pray for our faith to be deepened and our relationship with Jesus to be strengthened, but how will that be accomplished? The truth is it often comes through increased trials, opposition, and suffering.
I know that doesn’t sound exciting, but it is something Scripture promises us. We’re promised trials and tribulations on this side of heaven (John 16:33) and are even told to look on suffering with joy (James 1:2–3).
But we’re also promised that God will never abandon or desert us no matter what comes our way (Deuteronomy 31:8, Matthew 28:20).
It’s uncomfortable to think about what following Jesus might cost us. It could cost us friends, worldly comforts, our reputation, financial wealth, or any number of other things. I’ve learned this is something every believer must come to terms with though if they want to live faithful to Jesus in a world that is opposed to Him.
Living faithfully means living obediently to Christ and if we are unwilling to obey because of the cost, we won’t withstand the opposition of the world.
And oh, how we miss out on the abundant life that Christ has for us. There is such richness in knowing Christ more fully, a fullness that often comes on the other side of our obedience.
May what Paul says in Philippians 3:8 (NIV) be increasingly true of our lives:
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.
