I Will Follow - Lead Me to the Cross

I was recently listening to a podcast entitled "The Power of the Resurrection." In it Rabbi Jason Sobel (a messianic rabbi based in California) highlights the fact that the resurrection and what it means for us is all about being changed, from death to life.  But that change came at a great price, it cost the very life of the Son of God.  Now of course we all want to see that kind of resurrection power in our lives and in the world around us.  The problem Rabbi Jason identifies is that "we all want change, but we're not willing to pay the cost for change."  Now we might be open to change that isn't too costly, something that only costs the spare change of our lives, but not the bigger kind of change that will cost us our time, plans, comfort, money, reputation...  And yet when we looked at Luke 9 in Part 1, we saw that one can't be a disciple unless they are willing to surrender their entire lives to the Lord on a daily basis.  And thus, as Rabbi Jason observes,  Jesus has "lots of fans, but few true followers."  


What's the difference between a fan and a follower?  Consider this excerpt from J.C. Ryle's "The Cost."

"Any of you who does not give up everything he has, cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:33 

What does it cost to be a Christian?

I grant freely that it costs little to be a mere outward Christian. A man has only got to attend a place of worship twice on Sunday, and to be tolerably moral during the week--and he has gone as far as thousands around him ever go in religion. All this is cheap and easy work--it entails no self-denial or self-sacrifice. If this is saving Christianity and will take us to Heaven when we die--we must alter the description of the way of life, and write, "Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to Heaven!"

But it does cost something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible. There are . . .
  enemies to be overcome,
  battles to be fought,
  sacrifices to be made,
  an Egypt to be forsaken,
  a wilderness to be passed through,
  a cross to be carried,
  a race to be run.
Conversion is not putting a man in a soft armchair, and taking him pleasantly to Heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict, in which it costs much to win the victory. Hence arises the unspeakable importance of "counting the cost."

True Christianity will cost a man . . .
  his self-righteousness,
  his sins,
  his love of ease, and
  the favor of the world.

A religion which costs nothing--is worth nothing! 

A cheap, easy Christianity, without a cross--will prove in the end a useless Christianity, without a crown.

This week's song is "Lead Me to the Cross," written by Brooke Fraser.  It was first released on the Hillsong United album All of the Above.  One of my favorite lines in this song says, "Rid me of myself, I belong to you."  Oh Lord, may we truly live each day as if our lives were not our own.