The Cost is Great, But the Reward is Greater

For so many Christians around the world, choosing to follow Jesus means having to give up your family, home, possessions, and in many cases, safety or life.

The Cost is Great, But the Reward is Greater

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

Get ready to rejoice! My friend Elizabeth shared this story a few months back, and it is too good not to share!

We have a new brother! During our two days, we were connected to a man, "Sam," who had reached out through a seed-sowing media campaign. Some of our guys met with him and heard his incredible story. He had been having dreams for several years of a Shepherd coming to him and saying, "Come, this is the way." A few years back, he encountered a foreign woman who explained to him that JC was the one in his dream and gave him a Book. He had been reading it for years, had believed in his heart, but didn't understand how to follow! Our guys met with him and helped him truly commit to following JC! Sam went straight home and told his family. Immediately he was kicked out and has been couch-hopping with no possessions. But the beautiful thing is that he doesn't quite mind the consequences he has faced! He said he will be okay because JC will be with him, even until the end of the age. He's eager to get dunked! He's meeting weekly for Word study! May He work a miracle in Sam's family and friend group that will be the beginning of a new Body in our city!

This is the reality for so many of our brothers and sisters around the world. Choosing to follow Jesus means having to give up your family, your home, your possessions, and in many cases, your safety or even your life. I have another friend in my church here in Germany who comes from the Middle East. He has become a Christian but has yet to tell his mother who lives in another country because he fears that his mother will try to have him killed if she finds out.

The great faith that Sam has displayed to forsake all earthly treasures and comforts for the sake of following Jesus shows that He has counted the cost and realized that, though the cost is great, the reward is far greater.

Philippians 3:8-10 says, "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."

Nothing in this world is more precious than Jesus Christ and the amazing privilege to know Him and follow Him as Lord. To be made a child of God, by faith in Christ alone, is the sweetest gift to be found in this life. Would you take some time to pray for Sam today and His new relationship with God? And while you pray for Him, let us thank the Lord for the examples of our brothers and sisters who live in places where persecution is frequent, who show us what it looks like to follow the Lord with great resolve and faith even in the face of danger.