In my last blog we spoke about what it means to follow Jesus. In this blog I want to focus on the cost of following Jesus.

Christianity in today’s culture runs the danger of sharing a gospel at half price or even at a discounted price “if you respond now“. A gospel at a discounted price has nothing to do with the expense of serving Jesus but rather an exposure of not understanding the gospel at all. Serving Jesus in fact does not cost us anything, but saves us from everything that would have cost us everything for eternity.

Mark 8:34

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

I would like to explain this in the following way:

The gospel will only cost us what the gospel has come to destroy. Three things that the gospel has no half price or cheaper package on:

  1. No Self-Love
  2. No Self-Purpose
  3. No Self-Worship
This passage and no other passage in the bible market any other price but “If anyone would come after Me, he must“

1.  No Self-Love – “must deny himself” self deny
Love expresses our highest form of passion and commitment, following Jesus requires all of our love and deserves nothing less. When we don’t give up the love of self, then even when we say we are following Jesus we will use who Jesus is and what He has to offer to benefit self.
Jesus has been self-sacrificial at all times, thinking about us.
Following Jesus means to take on the attitude and mind of Christ (Phil 2) and rather self-sacrifice for the benefit of others than to self love only seeking to benefit self. Self love centers the world around one self which will be the worst place we can find ourselves in; Me, myself and I a very small package. In “SIN” you will find “I” in the center of all sin. When I live then sin will live, when I die, then sin dies with I. Anything or anyone who encourages the “I” to be glorified and to live is loveless and destructive. One of the greatest loving acts we can do for someone is to encourage and help them to die to self, that would be the best for self.
We continually need to remind ourselves that “I am not the center of the world, God is”.
The Price: Give up I for we, myself for Him. 
2.  No Self-Purpose – “take up his cross” be redefined
Self purpose has more to do with the will of God than the sufferings we need to endure without purpose. I by no means want to minimize the sufferings involved in serving Jesus, but the purpose that justifies the price.
Taking up one’s cross has to do with taking up God’s will and purpose for our lives as He has created us. Our purpose was designed by God, for God to fulfill the will of God. No creature defines its own purpose; that would be arrogant. To self design our purpose and creation plan could be seen as an act of direct rebellion against our Creator and His plans. Understanding that we were created by a loving Creator who purposefully created us to bring Him glory. Man’s highest call is man fully satisfied in pleasing and glorifying God. God’s will and purpose directs and defines all that we are and do. From being a house keeper or a company owner if not to please God, then what are we doing and for whom are we doing it? If our business is not God’s business then whose business is it?
Like a good friend of mine always says, find out God’s purpose for your life as early as possible and then live in it al long as possible.
We were created to love pleasing our Creator in all we are and do.
The Price: My will for His will
3.  No Self-Worship – “follow Me” to glorify
Our habitual love and obedience is our ultimate expression of worship. Worship has to do with subscribing “Worthiness” to someone or something. Giving someone our full attention and devotion. Following them in action and in lifestyle. When self is loved then inevitably all of purpose will be defined and aligned to help love self more because of the worthiness that self has subscribed to itself.
There is definitely no half price on this one, not even a 5% discount. You cannot have two masters! Christ was not trying to fill up His offerings baskets and build His “how many followers” reputation. He made it crystal clear, no discount and no bargaining. “You shall serve no other gods, but Me” You shall love and obey no other but Me, that is if you want to follow Me. The Glory of God is the ultimate calling of man. We were created by God, for God to glorify God alone! God being totally God centered is completely loving, drawing us into Himself which is our very best, being created to become like Him in character and nature.
The Price: My name and story for His fame and glory.
Conclusion:
Any discounted gospel is no gospel at all, but a deception drawing man into a false sense of security that offers nothing but some earthly satisfaction and a temporary ease of conscience. Any discount actually offers you a major hidden price to be paid, the failure of knowing and enjoying God forever, being fully and completely satisfaction in Him.
In following Christ we need to be willing to deny self-love and self-centeredness and allow God to redefine our purpose so we can wholeheartedly live to glorify Him in all we are and do. 
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