“Follow Me”: But Count the Cost

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Christ followers know that Jesus was very clear concerning the cost of following Him. For some it would mean being dispersed from their homeland and for others, it meant a horrific death. You don’t hear many Christ followers using that methodology in their evangelistic efforts! But one thing for sure, if we did, it would ensure that no one would attempt to enter the Kingdom under false pretenses.

For the early Christ followers, the cost was very high, just as Jesus predicted! They were disowned by their families, excommunicated from their synagogues, and suffered severe persecution—and even martyrdom—at the hand of the government in their day, the Romans. [See Hebrews 11:35-40]

I don’t see that animosity toward Christians has changed since those days. And while the persecution of Christ followers in America is, for now, mostly marginalization, everyday I pick up a newspaper, I read about extreme hardship and persecution of Christ followers somewhere in the world. 

So, my dear Christ follower, count the cost! God may not always shield you from persecution, but He will provide His all-sufficient grace!

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:9a