The Cost; count it and believe it, that is what is best. When we count the cost we see that it takes surrender and opening our heart to let the Holy Spirit show us the way. In Matthew chapter 8 verse 21 it says, "Another of His disciples said, 'Lord, first let me return home and bury my father." Sounds like a simple request for someone who is going to follow Jesus, but Jesus says in verse 22, "But Jesus told him, 'Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead." Our priorities need to be lined up with God and what He is telling or showing us. Pastor Warren Wiersbe wrote this about this verse and it made me think. "Jesus was not asking the man to be disrespectful to his father (who was not yet dead,) but to have the right priority in life. It would be better to preach the gospel and give life to the spiritually dead than to wait for ones father to die and bury him." We are here to make disciples and learn from God to be like Jesus and that takes listening to Him and not the world.
If we live trying to please ourselves or get the stuff we want to get done all the time we will miss out on our chance to witness. It seems like (in our minds that if we work hard we deserve to have and do all the things that we desire.) When we follow God and live our life like Christ (outwardly thinking) our desires are to give, serve and share the Good News about Christ and we will use our time to make a difference in peoples lives. What I noticed since accepting the Lord, my life hasn't changed to be boring, it has changed to be exciting because everything I do or try to do comes with love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit and all situations become a chance to shine a light. (Don't get me wrong, I still have things that I want to have, the focus is just different.) I find that makes all I do seem more exciting and i enjoy the simple things a lot more.
The transformation that takes place highlights my life it doesn't darken it. When I was living for myself, when things didn't happen how I wanted them I was sad or hurt, but since learning, growing, and focusing on Him my goals aren't to please myself but working to please the Lord. Then when things don't happen the way I though they should, I know God will continue to use what happens for His kingdom, and that makes me keep pressing on.
I love what it says in Romans chapter 8 verse 28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." When we believe this we see what the Spirit is showing us and we live a way that is according to His purpose for us not what we feel is right for our lives. When we let God transform us we are outwardly focused and we give, serve, and share so others see a light. Then we can grow in our faith and we become an example of Christ for people to see. Amen