It’s Free But It Will Cost You Everything

Jesus is building a living temple, not made of hands, the body of Christ on this earth.

“Jesus answered them, Destroy (undo) this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again. Then the Jews replied, It took forty-six years to build this temple (sanctuary), and will You raise it up in three days? But He had spoken of the temple which was His body.” (‭John‬ ‭2‬:‭19-21‬ AMP)

Do you think He has considered the cost of building the temple? He knows it intimately. He felt the cost on the cross where He bled and died for your sin, and He knows what it is going to cost you also.

“Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.” (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19-20‬ AMP)

Have you yourself considered the cost? Did you even KNOW there was a cost before you decided to follow Jesus? Or were you given an easy gospel, full of cheap grace?

Yes, the gift of salvation, eternal life, is FREE. Make no mistake about that. It is FREE. There is nothing at all in this world that we could DO that would ever earn us salvation or the entrance into eternal life, because that is completely and totally by the love and grace of God.

“For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]” (‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8-9‬ AMP)

However, the choice to actually FOLLOW Jesus is never spoken of in that way. Becoming a disciple, becoming a temple, a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit, is never spoken of as an easy task. If we mean to do it, it will take everything we have, all of our resources, all of our strength, and we will be giving up our own plans, our control, our own agenda, to His purposes, which He will work in and through us, as we yield ourselves to Him and to His leading.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].”(‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬ AMP)

He does tell us, however, that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. That is because, as we yield to Him, we “yoke” with him. He walks alongside and shares the weight, the burden, because we work together, as one, just as do cattle who are yoked together at the plough. The work is shared, the load eased.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.]

For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29-30‬ AMP)

Will you “yoke” with Jesus? Will you become a disciple? Will you become a part of the body of Christ, a true temple for the Holy Spirit?

Consider the cost……

Jan 11, 2015, 1:29 PM

2 comments on “It’s Free But It Will Cost You Everything”

1. insanitybytes22

   January 12, 2015

   

   Ahh, lovely piece. I like what you said about a yoke being a shared burden. Nobody has to carry that weight alone, because there’s Someone else helping you to pull the load.

   LikeLiked by 1 person

   Reply
   • annj49

     January 12, 2015

     

     Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

     LikeLiked by 1 person

     Reply

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