Consider the Cost

Jan. 06, 2014 Monday Message:

“A scribe approached Jesus and said, ‘Rabbi, I will follow you wherever you go.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’” (Matt. 8:19-20)

Remember that TV game show where they ask the contestants, “Is that your final answer? – Are you sure?”

Jesus wants people to follow him, to be his disciples, both when he walked the earth and nowadays. He personally recruited the apostles, as well as many of the other disciples who walked with him. On the road to Damascus, Jesus recruited Paul. Today, he calls you and me to participate in His ministry, the church.

But if you’re thinking of joining the throng, Jesus has one more question: ‘Have you considered the cost?’ - ’Is that your final answer?’ If you’re being called to an itinerant ministry, great, but there’s not even a place to lay your head! Yikes! Talk about under-resourced!

Jesus taught that no one should begin building a tower without the means to finish the job. Only a fool would put all his assets into completing half a job. Consider the cost BEFORE you start.

Ministry can be rough – not everything will run smoothly. You will have setbacks and you will hit roadblocks, dead-ends and resistance. Many in the world do not love Jesus like you do. Satan will fight you every step of the way. Can you keep going to the end? Can you finish? Have you considered the cost? Is that your final answer?

Jesus wants us to run the race in such a way as to win the prize. (1 Cor. 9:24)

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. Last week we were frozen out, but the weather should be more favorable this Sunday, Jan. 12, and we’ll resume our in-depth study of Luke 18:18-30. Bring your Bibles!