What's the Cost?

I came across something in my reading this morning that has stuck with me and I thought it was worth sharing. A question was posed by Amaziah in 2 Chronicles 25:9, the gist of which was, "How much will it cost me to be obedient?" To which the man of God he was speaking to answered, "The Lord is able to give you much more than this." This exchange really stuck with me as obedience is a constant struggle but one I am determined to win. The reading went on to say that "whatever obedience costs, it is always ultimately cheaper than disobedience."

I have lived through a season of disobedience and it was definitely costly. My guess is that you have too. We are constantly bombarded and enticed with opportunities to gratify our flesh rather than choose the path of obedience. Disobedience is a slippery slope, one that we may feel we can handle. We think we won't get sucked back in, we think we are stronger this time, we say we have learned our lesson, or you think that _______ is no longer your struggle. You fill in the blank!

Your struggle is likely not my struggle but we ALL have a struggle. It could be impulsive spending, an addiction to sex, alcohol, drugs, food. It could be a forbidden relationship. Whatever it is, it is important that you stay the course. Choose the path of obedience. Set yourself up for success, not failure. Don't go to the place that tempts you most, don't take the one drink that may lead to ten, don't encourage the co-worker who is giving you attention, even if you are starved at home. Satan only needs a cracked window in order to access every crevice of your life. Satan's goal is to steal, kill, and destroy!

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

Having "life to the full" as stated in the scripture above, doesn't just happen. We don't just fall into God's favor. It is through making the hard choices of obedience and the renewing of our heart. Charles Spurgeon said it best: (somewhat paraphrased)

Do not I pray you be satisfied with the practice of piety without the principles of piety.

It is not enough to have correct creed; you must have a renewed heart. It is not

sufficient to have ritual; you must have a holy life, and to be holy you must be renewed

by the Holy Spirit. If this change is not in you by the Holy Ghost, you who yield so

readily to good will yield just as quickly to evil.

Isn't that the hardest part? We try so hard to do right, to do good but oh how quickly we slip back into our old ways! I've done this time and time again!

I encourage you to take the small steps of obedience or maybe even the BIG ones! It may cost us momentary disappointment but the cost of disobedience is much greater! The Lord is able to give me and to give you abundantly more!

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Until next time...