Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The cost.....

..I read a line in my devotion today: Don't be deceived into thinking there is no cost involved in obedience.

The devotion was on Jeremiah. Many call him the weeping prophet because he was called by God during a tough time in the history of the nation of Judah.....they had turned far from God. Jeremiah sacrificed so much to be God's messenger and be obedient to God's call. He sacrificed his reputation and dealt with much misunderstanding, ridicule and persecution.......this hit me hard this morning.

I don't know about you, but I don't like it when someone doesn't like me.....especially when I am misunderstood. I don't like things to be hard. I want them to be easy and go smoothly. It seems that if I am being obedient and doing what God has called me to do, then it should go well..........who ever fed us that lie?

satan.

God says in His Word in this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world. I can't find any place in God's Word that suggests it will be easy to follow him.

This next line hit me hard too: satan will try to convince you that obedience carries much too high a price, but he will never tell you the cost of not obeying God. How true is that? We look at how hard it is to follow Christ, to be obedient and we make a choice. We don't think about the cost of not obeying.......lost blessing, lost peace, lost joy.........we just look at what we perceive to be easier.

God has called me to a ministry. And it is tough some days....many days. But one thing I know is that He called me here.....and I need to be obedient, make adjustments, and face the hardships that will come when I align my life with God's will.

I so desire to have that deep satisfaction of knowing I was a faithful servant. That I fully obeyed God, regardless of the cost.

How about you? What is God calling you to today? Will you make the necessary adjustments He is asking you to make?

What is the cost? Is it worth it?

I say it is!


14 comments:

Mocha with Linda said...

Great thoughts to ponder.

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

I say it is worth it too Sara...although sometimes in the deep of the night...I allow worry to take over...I have to fight that...AND KNOW that God's plan IS MY PLAN!!!

I SO want to be open to God's plan for me and my family! I do not want to miss out on even ONE of the opportunities that he offers to us!

Blessings dear one!
Jill

Rachel said...

Thank you so much for sharing. You have blessed my heart.

Rach@In His Hands said...

Definitely worth it! Loved these thoughts today....I needed the reminder.

SmilingSally said...

Ah yes, the cost is well worth it. Trust and Obey is a great song to sing right about now.

Elizabeth said...

This is the theme of my reading today. Amazing that I read your words just when I needed the reminder that the cost is worth it all! You are such an encouragement to me, Sara.

Sara@iSass said...

I loved this post Sara!
I think along the same lines as you. I hate being misunderstood, I want things to go easy and smooth.
I'm on a fence, all I keep saying is "hurry up Jesus, I'm ready to stop living in this world."
(I don't mean that in a take my own life way, I mean rapture us NOW.)
As my kiddos get older and start venturing out in the world my heart breaks that I won't be able to stop the world from hurting them. I've gone through some painful things, and have made it out, stronger and more comitted, but what if they turn AWAY from God because they feel he isn't loving...
This is the fence I'm on, praying praying praying for His light to remain bright in them as they go farther and farther out into the dark, lying world.
Being a a christian Mom is SO hard.

Ohilda said...

Sara...

Amazing message. I'm praying for you my friend. I'd also love to chat with you when we can find the time. I need your words of wisdom.

Hugs!!

christy rose said...

I like what you say about the fact that we always look at the cost of what it takes to obey God so intensely but many times we fail to look at the cost of what happens if we don't.

God's way may seem like it costs a lot to our flesh and our way. But, the blessings are really what God's way is all about. And the greatest cost comes when we do not obey Him by trusting Him.

Growin' With It said...

when we first began our "winter" a very good friend said something along these lines to me...God is more concerned about your obedience than your happiness. OUCH. and so very true. i know you will come out the other end happy because of who you have become! chin up sister. praying for you!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

This spoke to me about a place I'm in, Sara.

LuAnn said...

Thanks Friend-
I need to get rid of my worry and wait to see what to see how his plan unfolds. Just wish I could see it now!!!!

Jamie said...

I so needed to read this!

Anonymous said...

Wow, this was great Sara. I rarely think about the cost of disobedience. Thank you for posting this!

And yes, it's totally worth it!