Wednesday, January 25, 2012

How Can We Do This?

"Dude, you have just been through the ringer with your family. Your little girl has a beat up little heart. You've cried tears measured in buckets. And now you're going to go directly into the rigors and hardship of Church Planting?! Shouldn't you find something a little more stable and secure? How can you do this to yourself...to your family?"

This might be your thought. It's been my thought.

And yet I sit here...in many ways beat up, broken and weary...and all I can say is How Can We NOT do this?

Let me be very clear...THE COST OF OBEDIENCE IS HIGH. Trust me, it's nearly cost our daughter. And the thing that God is calling you to is going to cost you in some way too. The more time I've spent in the Scripture the more adamant I am in saying this: If the Gospel isn't costing you, it probably isn't the Gospel.

For some of you the cost of obedience will drastically change your finances, your location, your vocation, your schedule, your parenting, your marriage, your priorities, your hobbies, your attitude, your relationships, etc. The cost of following Jesus is high.

They didn't tell me that. They said Jesus loves me. That Jesus gives me Heaven and takes away Hell. That Jesus gives me purpose. That Jesus' burden is light and His yoke is easy. That Jesus forgives my sins. But what they left out?

Oh yeah, by the way...following Jesus will demand your very life. Following Jesus will reorient your affections so that all things submit to Him. That following Jesus costs.

What's the Gospel costing you?

For me, it is costing me security (but I've never felt more secure), safety (but I've never felt more safe), and certainy (but I've never been so sure).

Friends, I say it one more time with every ounce of passion and energy I can muster: THE COST OF OBEDIENCE IS HIGH!

But be certain...

The COST OF DISOBEDIENCE IS HIGHER.

Choose this day whom you will serve. Because half-hearted and luke warm are failing.

8 comments:

Melissa Spitzig said...

THANK YOU for BLESSING me with this message. One that I needed to hear...on so many levels.

Ben...what an awesome man of God you are...and I admire you and Shaina for following God's plan the whole way through...never backing down...always stepping out in faith. What a TESTIMONY of God's GOODNESS...FAITHFULNESS...LOVE!

May you continue to be blessed! :)

Joanne Sadlon said...

Speechless in North Olmsted.

Thank you Ben.

Mama Karen said...
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Mama Karen said...
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Mama Karen said...

Very well said. Discipleship costs. The disciples left EVERYTHING to follow Jesus. Why do we think we don't have to? The call of God is great and the mission field is waiting. It is evident that the call is getting stronger in you. Keep walking in it. 2 Peter 1:10 says "brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." As I was looking this up in my computer, for some reason, as I changed the version I was reading this scripture in, the following scripture was on my screen. After reading it, God spoke to me to remind you of this: 1 Peter 5:6-10 "Therefore, humble yourselves under God’s power so that he may raise you up in the last day. Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you. Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. Do so in the knowledge that your fellow believers are enduring the same suffering throughout the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, the one who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you."

I will let the Word of God speak for itself!

Cindy Penrod said...

I cried when I read this post. Tears of gratefulness that God loves me enough to teach me about this journey of obedience, and I love Him and desire to be His student in 'losing all for Christ's sake'. I love you and Shaina and little Chaia so very much. So thankful you love Jesus and are obeying His call, no matter the cost. Again... I Thesalonians 5:24 "The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." Praying.

Anonymous said...

Amen to that!
Love and prayers from MA.

Leigh said...

Since you've posted this, I've read it countless times every day. It speaks to me for my life right now. Aside from your blog, our lives are separate, yet I feel like I walk in discipleship with you, Shaina and Chaia everyday.
I can't thank you enough!
Praying everyday for you and your family :)