Luke 14:28 (NLT) But dont begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? INTRODUCTION When a builder doesn't count the cost or estimates it inaccurately, the building may be left uncompleted. Will you abandon the Christian life after a little while because you did not count the cost of commitment to Jesus? What are those costs? Christians may face loss of social status or wealth. They may have to give up control of their money, their time, or their career. They may be hated, separated from their family, and even put to death. Following Christ does not mean a trouble-free life. We must carefully count the cost of becoming Christ's disciples so that we will firmly hold to our faith and won't be tempted later to turn back. [Life Application SB] COMMENTARY PEARL I gained a lot of weight when I first got married. A lot. From a svelte 130 pounds, I ballooned to a top weight of 207. I was heavier than I'd ever been in my life and was completely miserable. After my eldest son, Pierce, was born, I decided I was willing to do anything to lose those extra pounds. I started walking on my treadmill and joined Weight Watchers. As a work-at-home new mom, I didn't have time to go to meetings, so I did the online version. The handy app tracked daily points and also provided nutritional value for the foods I considered eating. With a swipe of my phone screen, I could quickly assess the benefit of having, say, an English muffin at 2 points versus a large blueberry muffin. Although that seemed healthy enough, it could be worth as much as a whopping 24 points - practically a whole day's worth of points! The difference was striking. Spiritual choices are like that too. I can go with the easier, more appetizing, and self-indulgent choice, or I can weigh the cost, deny my initial impulse, and do that which is healthier, more nutritious, and ultimately more satisfying for my soul. It took many months, much determination, and constant prayer, but I weigh 140 today. I still pause to count points and not just with my food. Weighing the value of each life decision over the other, I routinely ask Jesus for grace to make the better choice. Isabella Campolattaro Faith Step: Whatever your temptation, ask Jesus for the grace to pause, count the cost, and make the better choice. [Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] COMMENTARY I remember hearing that "having kids is infinitely more demanding than you can anticipate but infinitely more rewarding too." Boy, this advice is so true and completely incomprehensible before having children. Having now had two kids, one with Down syndrome, I can testify that it's a costly undertaking in every way. Being a good parent means exuding more heart, sacrifices, emotional energy, and money than I could imagine, but reaping way more joy, satisfaction, and love than I could anticipate too. There have been times in my twenty years of being a Christian when being a believer seemed very costly. I reluctantly confess that I've bristled or grieved at the rejections, difficult choices, or personal sacrifices my life as a Christian has required. Sometimes these challenges were hard even if I definitely felt motivated and empowered to meet them. On the other hand, I've had extraordinary experiences and rewards that I cannot quantify - and that's not even counting the promise of heaven! Today's Scripture verse is one morsel of a speech in which Jesus shares a few parables to describe the cost of discipleship. Later, He says we must be willing to give up everything to follow Him. He urges us to count the cost of following Him. The price is worth every penny. Isabella Campolattaro Faith Step: Make a list of what being a disciple of Jesus has cost you. For each item, list at least one of the extraordinary rewards you receive in exchange. [Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] Right now my wife and my mother are decorating a birthday cake for my daughter. It's a pretty princess cake. When I peeked in earlier, they were getting everything ready, checking to be sure they had everything they needed. The whole cake business seems pretty simple to me - you bake it, frost it, eat it. But apparently, to do the job right, there are steps, lots of steps. For instance, my wife just told me that a cake needs to cool down before it's decorated. Who knew? They aren't just putting some frosting on the cake and hoping for the best. They're being very methodical, thinking through each step. That commitment to doing things right can be applied to all of us. Whether we're building or baking or rebooting our lives, we need to take the time to do the job right. It's important to make sure we are set up, ready to go, at each place in our lives before we move on to the next step. Let's take a moment to stop and think about the process. What is it God wants to do in our lives next? Heavenly Father, help me to be wise as I walk through the steps of my life. Show me how to prepare my heart for each step in its time. In Jesus' name, amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John & Johnny Baker] CLOSING THOUGHT Commitments Do you ever say yes to things and then wish later with all of your heart that you had said no? Most of us do that until we learn to think through all we are already doing and what it will really require of us to take on another commitment. None of us want to disappointment people who make requests of us, and that can be a good thing, but if it is carried too far, we end up frustrated, stressed, and unhappy ourselves. I am doing an event in the near future that I said yes to but probably should have said no. because now I am not looking forward to it and I feel it is crowding my schedule. But it is my own fault. I will keep my word because that is very important, and I will have a good attitude, and hopefully, I will learn afresh the importance of saying no when I need to. I encourage you to take the time to think through whether or not you have what it takes to finish something and maintain your peace before you begin it. Always keep your word, even if you have to suffer in order to do so. Father, help me discern when to say yes and when to say no. I want to finish what I start and keep my peace at all times. [My Time with God by Joyce Meyer] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Luke 9:23 - Our Valentine to God. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220214-1126.html Luke 14:33 - Jesus Our All in All. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20221113-1022.html YOUR COMMENTS If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or testimony on this passage of Scripture, either personal or otherwise, I would be interested in hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred Gibbs LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/