IT'S NOT EASY
(TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST)
It wasn't easy
To be a follower of Christ
Two thousand years ago
In fact
It could cost you
Your very life
And often did
TODAY-unless we are
In a foreign land
It is not likely to cost us
Our life
Yet it can cost us-
You and me-a great deal
“Peter began to say to Jesus,
'We have given up everything
And followed you'” Mark 10:28
Today-it is MORE likely
To cost in terms
Of our finances
Or the TIME we devote
To our ministry
But what about
The less tangible ways
WHAT are the costs
Well we
Shouldn't be judging others
And we shouldn't be gossiping
About our neighbor
And we shouldn't be OVERLY CRITICAL
Of others or ourselves
And we shouldn't be RETURNING
Harsh words or hatred to others
WHEN they have mistreated us
So there are COSTS
To carrying the cross
Just as there were great costs
To Jesus and his disciples
“The BEGINNING of wisdom
Is this: GET WISDOM
Though it cost ALL you have-
GET UNDERSTANDING” Proverbs 4:7
IT'S NOT EASY
To be a FOLLOWER of Christ
“Then Jesus said to his disciples,
'WHOEVER wants to be
My disciple
MUST deny themselves
And TAKE UP the cross
And follow me
For whoever wants
To SAVE their life
Will lose it
And whoever loses their life
For me
WILL FIND IT” Matthew 16:24-25
I found myself
I found MY LIFE
I found my PURPOSE
For living
In being a FOLLOWER of Christ
No-it has not been easy
It is a CONSTANT CHALLENGE
To KEEP God and Christ
Number ONE in your life
It's hard
To be a follower of Christ
And we are
NEVER going to be perfect at it
Maybe-not even good at it
But every day-
WE get a NEW OPPORTUNITY
A fresh opportunity
To be strengthened
By OUR FAITH
And by God's and Christ's GRACE
And by our community
To GROW CLOSER to God
Dear Lord-the REWARDS
Of your LOVE AND GRACE
Are worth the COST
In Jesus' name
Robert P. Wallman
5-24-16 and 6-22-2026
Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Melanie Rigney
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