Real Conversations (Luke 8-10)Sampel

German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer asserted, “Nothing can be cheap to us which is costly to God. And 1 Corinthians 6:20 reminds us that above all, grace is costly, because it was costly to God, costing Him the life of His Son— “you were bought with a price.”

In our final day of reading this week, Jesus makes it abundantly clear to Hhis disciples that to follow Him comes with a cost … and that cost is the world. “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (v. 25). As followers of Christ, we are called to forsake the world. In doing so, we must desire eternal joy in Christ more than we desire the things of the world – even our very favorite things such as our homes, cars, social calendars or dream jobs. Jesus paid the ultimate price so we might be free from sin. That is the very grace we should never take for granted.

May we gladly pick up our cross daily and pursue Christ in every area of our life, clinging to the promise that “whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (v. 24b). On the other side of carrying our cross with Christ is eternity with Christ.

Question

How does the hope of eternity encourage you in our season of struggle?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to leave this world behind and follow You. Please give me the strength to pick up my cross daily and follow You faithfully.