Monday, March 12, 2012

What Will You Choose?

Learning some hard lessons right now...
Luke 12:51-53 says,
" Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother0in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
Ephesians 5:11 says,
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."
Luke 14:26-35 says,
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it -- lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

If you simply skipped over the verses above to read the rest of the post, I urge you to go back and read the words of God. They are of FAR more importance then what I am about to say.




There are two situations that we are facing at the moment:


(1) A dear friend of mine was lying to us for a long period of time. She was pretending to be someone she was not, and after opening our home, our possessions, and our children to her, we got burned. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to this dear friend. We are praying that she grows in her relationship with Jesus elsewhere.


(2) We need to sit down and confront another person. We have been too lenient with the conversations we have had with them, and compromised by fellowshipping with darkness. 




Through both of these experiences, dear reader, I must ask you, what would you choose?


Have you counted to cost to follow Jesus?


If He asked you to move somewhere you didn't want to move, what would you choose?

If He asked you to risk the safety of your children, the stability of your relationships, the comfort of your "Christian bubble", what would you choose?

If Christ, your beloved Savior, asked you to leave your mother and your father behind, to leave your dearest sister or closest friend, what would you choose?



Would you give up your career? Your financial stability? Your friendships? Your family? Your home? Your comforts? Your eating habits? Your exercise habits? Your clothing style? Your desire for your children's education? Your plans? Your dreams? Your safety? Your church body? Your support? Your familiars?


Friend, do you love Him? Do you trust Him? Is He more important then the very breath in your lungs?


Do not start building this tower if you cannot finish. Do not start this battle, if you will not fight. Do not start running the race if you will not finish! 



Finish well!

2 comments:

  1. Oh Cassie, your posts never cease to remind me of the many conversations we had in high school!! Thanks for always pointing to Jesus, thanks for the reminder to count the cost and finish well, which is something the Lord has brought to me in so many ways lately! With that another verse the Lord has really laid on my heart is Psalms 127:1," Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchmen keeps awake in vain." It just really encourages me to keep on keeping on but still if it is me building that tower or running the race by my own ideas/intentions/ strength then it is all in vain! For truly it has to be that I no longer live, but that Christ lives in me!

    Thanks for the encouragement sister! you and your precious family are often in my thoughts and prayers, we love you guys!
    Sarah

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  2. Praise the Lord! I love you Sarah :)

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