Luke 9
Jesus is talking about the cost of following Him. Indeed there is a cost - He does not guarantee a life free of trouble. On the contrary - we WILL have trouble (John 16:33). John Piper expands on the cost of following Jesus.
Yet, Paul reminds us of the "surpassing worth" of following Christ:
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is worth more than anything I or anyone else can ever attain for ourselves. You adopted me as Your own and died for me so that I could have life - freedom from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus. You are the most amazing gift of all time. I am undeserving of such a gift. I daily miss the mark. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” v62
Jesus is talking about the cost of following Him. Indeed there is a cost - He does not guarantee a life free of trouble. On the contrary - we WILL have trouble (John 16:33). John Piper expands on the cost of following Jesus.
Yet, Paul reminds us of the "surpassing worth" of following Christ:
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is worth more than anything I or anyone else can ever attain for ourselves. You adopted me as Your own and died for me so that I could have life - freedom from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus. You are the most amazing gift of all time. I am undeserving of such a gift. I daily miss the mark. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
