What’s the Bottom Line?
Then he said to them all, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
(Luke 9:23-25)
Once there was a dairy farmer who went to buy a new pickup truck. He had seen an ad in the paper about discounts and factory rebates, so he decided to trade in his old clunker at the advertising dealership. He chose a new model and was ready to write a check. The salesman said, “Wait, I haven’t given you the final cost yet.” The farmer said, “I saw the price advertised in the paper.” The salesman said, “Oh, that’s for the basic model, all the options cost extra.” The farmer looked at the long list of additional costs associated with the extras on the truck. After realizing the options were in fact included with the truck, the farmer accepted them, paid his bill and drove off in his new pick-up. A few months later the salesman called the farmer because he wanted to buy a cow for his son’s 4-H project. The farmer assured the car salesman he had several good milk cows for sale for $500. The salesman drove out and selected a good looking Holstein and took out his checkbook. The farmer said, “Wait. I haven’t given you the final cost yet.” Then he handed the salesman a bill that read: BASIC COW $500.00 -Two-tone exterior $45.00 -Extra stomach $75.00 -Milk storage compartment $60.00 -Straw recycling compartment $120.00 -Four handy spigots @ $10 each $40.00 -Leather upholstery $125.00 -Dual horns $45.00 -Automatic rear fly swatter $38.00 -Fertilizer and emissions attachment $185.00 GRAND TOTAL $1233.00
Whether you’re buying cars or cows, it’s important to get to what we call “the bottom line.” What is the “bottom line” of following Jesus? You might go into “sticker shock” when you discover it. Many people are only interested in the basic model of Christian living. They want just enough of Christ to keep them out of hell without intruding on their fun or lifestyle. But Jesus always lets people know the full price of following him before they make a decision to follow him. In reality, there are no so called “options” when we make the decision to follow. If you’re going to follow after Him, here’s the package deal:
* Be Prepared to Pay the Full Price of Being a Follower of Christ. Then he said to them all,“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Recognize the requirements are the same for all followers. In other words, the cost is the same for everyone. What’s it going to cost to be a follower? Everything. Now don’t get too confused over this statement. I didn’t ask, “What’s it going to cost to be forgiven of my sins?” The answer to that question is, “Nothing.” The price of forgiveness and justification has already been paid in full on the cross of Christ. At Calvary the sin debt was paid in full, once for all by his sacrifice. Salvation is free gift offered by God in His grace to whoever will receive it. We don’t earn, work or pay for salvation. We receive it. But having received salvation we are then called to follow – to become disciples. And the cost here is the same for all of us. Everything about us – everything that comprises our life – must all come under His Lordship. If we have not made him Lord over every area of our life – we are not truly following. If we make the decision to follow – we must be willing to pay the full price. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
* Be Willing To Dethrone Your Self-Centered Ego “he must deny himself” Jesus said you can not be a follower unless you “deny yourself.” That doesn’t mean you have to deny yourself something like sweets, sleep or food. Think of your “self” as your “ego” or the “Big I.” Because we are sinners, our human nature makes us self-centered. We put the “Big I” at the center of our own little universe and everything revolves around our “ego.” We want what we want, when we want it, the way we want it. If we don’t get what we want, we will sacrifice almost anything to obtain it. That’s what it’s like when “Self” is on the throne of my life. To deny self means we cease to live a self-centered, self-oriented life. “Self” must be dethroned and Jesus recognized as ruler on the throne of our life. But catch this: The throne of your life is a single-seater; there’s only room for one at a time. There is no way for “self” to rule and for Jesus to rule at the same time. Following Jesus means we choose to submit to his reign and rule over us.
* Be Willing to Pick Up Your Cross” “and take up his cross daily and follow me.” The cross has always been a symbol of death and total submission. It symbolizes complete surrender. Complete sacrifice. Completely conquered by someone else. Romans used the cross to display conquered enemies of the state. The cross was a symbol for all to see their total authority over their conquered subjects. Jesus says up front, “If you want to follow after me recognize there is no way to follow except to bear a cross daily.” We are called to daily surrender and sacrifice because of his comprehensive authority.
Too many people want to claim the name of Jesus and follow him on their own terms. What’s the bottom line? Recognize the cost of being a disciple before you say, “I will follow.” His terms are clear for all to see in His Word. They are not hard to understand or accomplish. He will give each of his followers the daily power and guidance necessary to carry them out.
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
(Luke 9:23-25)
Once there was a dairy farmer who went to buy a new pickup truck. He had seen an ad in the paper about discounts and factory rebates, so he decided to trade in his old clunker at the advertising dealership. He chose a new model and was ready to write a check. The salesman said, “Wait, I haven’t given you the final cost yet.” The farmer said, “I saw the price advertised in the paper.” The salesman said, “Oh, that’s for the basic model, all the options cost extra.” The farmer looked at the long list of additional costs associated with the extras on the truck. After realizing the options were in fact included with the truck, the farmer accepted them, paid his bill and drove off in his new pick-up. A few months later the salesman called the farmer because he wanted to buy a cow for his son’s 4-H project. The farmer assured the car salesman he had several good milk cows for sale for $500. The salesman drove out and selected a good looking Holstein and took out his checkbook. The farmer said, “Wait. I haven’t given you the final cost yet.” Then he handed the salesman a bill that read: BASIC COW $500.00 -Two-tone exterior $45.00 -Extra stomach $75.00 -Milk storage compartment $60.00 -Straw recycling compartment $120.00 -Four handy spigots @ $10 each $40.00 -Leather upholstery $125.00 -Dual horns $45.00 -Automatic rear fly swatter $38.00 -Fertilizer and emissions attachment $185.00 GRAND TOTAL $1233.00
Whether you’re buying cars or cows, it’s important to get to what we call “the bottom line.” What is the “bottom line” of following Jesus? You might go into “sticker shock” when you discover it. Many people are only interested in the basic model of Christian living. They want just enough of Christ to keep them out of hell without intruding on their fun or lifestyle. But Jesus always lets people know the full price of following him before they make a decision to follow him. In reality, there are no so called “options” when we make the decision to follow. If you’re going to follow after Him, here’s the package deal:
* Be Prepared to Pay the Full Price of Being a Follower of Christ. Then he said to them all,“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Recognize the requirements are the same for all followers. In other words, the cost is the same for everyone. What’s it going to cost to be a follower? Everything. Now don’t get too confused over this statement. I didn’t ask, “What’s it going to cost to be forgiven of my sins?” The answer to that question is, “Nothing.” The price of forgiveness and justification has already been paid in full on the cross of Christ. At Calvary the sin debt was paid in full, once for all by his sacrifice. Salvation is free gift offered by God in His grace to whoever will receive it. We don’t earn, work or pay for salvation. We receive it. But having received salvation we are then called to follow – to become disciples. And the cost here is the same for all of us. Everything about us – everything that comprises our life – must all come under His Lordship. If we have not made him Lord over every area of our life – we are not truly following. If we make the decision to follow – we must be willing to pay the full price. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
* Be Willing To Dethrone Your Self-Centered Ego “he must deny himself” Jesus said you can not be a follower unless you “deny yourself.” That doesn’t mean you have to deny yourself something like sweets, sleep or food. Think of your “self” as your “ego” or the “Big I.” Because we are sinners, our human nature makes us self-centered. We put the “Big I” at the center of our own little universe and everything revolves around our “ego.” We want what we want, when we want it, the way we want it. If we don’t get what we want, we will sacrifice almost anything to obtain it. That’s what it’s like when “Self” is on the throne of my life. To deny self means we cease to live a self-centered, self-oriented life. “Self” must be dethroned and Jesus recognized as ruler on the throne of our life. But catch this: The throne of your life is a single-seater; there’s only room for one at a time. There is no way for “self” to rule and for Jesus to rule at the same time. Following Jesus means we choose to submit to his reign and rule over us.
* Be Willing to Pick Up Your Cross” “and take up his cross daily and follow me.” The cross has always been a symbol of death and total submission. It symbolizes complete surrender. Complete sacrifice. Completely conquered by someone else. Romans used the cross to display conquered enemies of the state. The cross was a symbol for all to see their total authority over their conquered subjects. Jesus says up front, “If you want to follow after me recognize there is no way to follow except to bear a cross daily.” We are called to daily surrender and sacrifice because of his comprehensive authority.
Too many people want to claim the name of Jesus and follow him on their own terms. What’s the bottom line? Recognize the cost of being a disciple before you say, “I will follow.” His terms are clear for all to see in His Word. They are not hard to understand or accomplish. He will give each of his followers the daily power and guidance necessary to carry them out.
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
posted by Larry | 4:01 PM
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