Luke 14:27(NLT)
“And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.”
There are believers all over the world that have chosen Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and love him with all their hearts. Many of them are facing very challenging times. Whether it’s relationships with spouses or family members, health challenges, financial hardships, or issues at work, many of us who love the Lord are facing pressures of every kind, and they seem to be mounting. Someone said to me that it feels like their life was easier when they were in the world. So that we don’t get sidetracked by that kind of thinking, we must remember that the gate to hell is wide, and most will travel through it. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 7:13(NLT), “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.”
As single women that are desiring to marry the man that God has ordained to walk with us through life, we understand the struggle, but we must remain faithful to God. There’s no doubt about it, waiting year after year to meet this man, and considering all the Mr. Not Right for Me candidates we’ve dated, it’s a challenge to keep our faith and optimism high. The loneliness cuts like a knife, and we’re tired of the single life. We might be tempted to throw in the towel, but the cost of giving up is a price far higher than cultivating the patience that God requires.
1Corinthians 10:13(NLT) tells us, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” A temptation is a trick, plot, or potential trouble that is sent from the enemy. It’s something that seems pleasurable on the surface, but if we give in, satan will use our lack of restraint to steal from us and keep us separated from God’s blessings. The bible is full of accounts of people who would not control their appetites and lusts and fell into a set of horrible circumstances. We need look no further than Mother Eve to see what one sinful decision can cost us.
The wisdom of Proverbs 16:32(NLT) says, “Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.” In the Old Testament, Esau sold his birth right to Jacob because he was hungry and would only think about satisfying his hunger at all costs. He didn’t consider the consequences of such a monumental decision, and it changed the course of his life. Many of us have a mindset like Esau’s. We are very willing to compromise our relationship with Heavenly Father for the sake of having a warm body to call our own. Nothing else matters to some of us except being in this man’s company, but what happens to our intimacy and devotion to God? Sometimes it goes right out the window, and this prolongs the blessing.
The Apostle Paul gives us some excellent advice in 1Corinthians 9:26-27(The Message). He said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.” This is the attitude that pleases God. It’s recognizing that He is the One who determines when our hearts and minds are spiritually strong and prepared for marriage. We should do our best to prove to Him that we are humble and eager to follow His guidance so that we can please Him.
Jesus Christ said in Luke 14:28(NLT), “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” Jesus Christ is telling us to take a seat and get brutally honest with ourselves. We must calculate if we’re really committed to follow him, because it is going to cost us something. We’re going to have to lay down desires, relationships, old habits, and old pleasures, and once we do, we can’t pick them up again.
In our minds and hearts, we must know that we can’t afford a life without Christ in it. When the truth of this is anchored deep in our hearts, we will also realize that what it costs to follow him is nothing compared to what we will lose if we don’t. So, we need to settle it in our minds that God is faithful, He knows our hearts and He sees our pain. He’s with us, and He will not disappoint our earnest efforts to grow in Christ and receive the rewards of doing so. When we begin to place the value of being a Christian over the value of everything else in life, the love of Christ in our hearts will position us to welcome the treasure we’ve longed to receive. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Cost of Being A Believer” written by Kim Times, edited by Fran Mack and K. Stephens for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2023. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!