Daily devotion – The cost of discipleship
Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
During the early years of the 20th century, a fellow by the name of Bill Borden turned his back on one of America’s great family fortunes to become a missionary to China. Tragically, Bill only travelled as far as Egypt where, still in his twenties, he died of typhoid fever.
But before his death, Bill Borden wrote these words, “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.”
The world would look at this young man’s life and say what a waste.
To follow Christ, to be His disciple, is always costly. Very few today, in our extremely selfish world, will take up God’s call to ‘follow Him.’
No, it may not cost us our lives here in Western Australia. But it will cost us. It will cost us our plans, our wills, our selfish desires. Jesus’ standard has not changed – “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Instead of controlling our lives, we turn them over to Jesus Christ our Lord – entirely!
Someone has said, “Salvation is free but not cheap!” It cost Jesus His life, and it will cost us as well. But could anything be greater? Could anything be more fulfilling?
Follow Jesus Christ, and at life’s end you will be able to also say along with amazing Bill Borden – “No regrets!”