A Soul’s Cost Cannot Be Measured
In a world where abortions terminate unwanted lives, the value of life has been minimized. But there is no price that could define human life. If we gain the whole world and lose our soul, we have paid the highest eternal price for temporary gain. A soul’s cost cannot be measured, but it can be treasured.
We are in the book of Luke 9-11 today. Luke the physician shares the commissioning of the 12 disciples. Reading from Luke 9:1-6, CSB translation, it says:
“Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 “Take nothing for the road,” he told them, “no staff, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. 5 If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.”
Friends, do you realize that you have power and authority? We can be so beat up by this world and the enemy of our souls that we forfeit what is ours in Christ. Perhaps we have expectations of what we think this walk with God is supposed to look like. But Jesus said they were to take nothing – no food and no money and that there was the potential for suffering and rejection. The disciples were to depend on God. And this is the challenge we have—to depend on God, not self, or anything in this world.
Carry Our Cross
Like the disciples, we are to carry our own cross. Suffering is not what we anticipated. But there is a secret in the midst of suffering. We learn that gaining the world is not a blessing. But denying ourselves helps us to keep a godly perspective. It feels opposite or counter-intuitive because we are accustomed to responding to the flesh instead of the Spirit. We were not promised a life of ease, but we were promised that He would be with us.
Scripture of the Day: Luke 9:25-27 (NLT)
“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”
A Soul’s Cost is eternal
The world system all around us is a distraction trying to keep us from God. We can pursue worldly gain, but it will not satisfy and it is only temporary. In Luke 10 Jesus sent a number of disciples ahead of him on his journey to Jerusalem. 72 of them. Jesus teaches His disciples how to follow God. He teaches them about serving and caring for others: The Parable of the Good Samaritan. He teaches them about being like Mary and seeking God. In Luke 11 Jesus teaches them the LORD’ prayer and teaches them to ask, seek and pray. He teaches them to not be divided, but to live out what they say they believe.
Luke 11:28 sums up this teaching: “He said, ‘Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.'”
But Christ did more than teach His followers. He modeled it perfectly. Jesus exposed the hypocrites, the Pharisees who also taught, but did not model the truths of God’s word. When we walk the talk and live according to God’s word, we find more joy than any worldly gain.
Application:
- A soul is too high a cost to pay.
- We have the same challenge as the disciples—to depend on God, not self, or anything in this world.
- Following Christ means we will have to bear our own cross.
- When we hear the word of God and keep it, we lose the world and gain all of eternity.
7-Fold One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Day #153: Luke 9-11
Scripture of the Day: Luke 9:25-27
Listen: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Luke.9
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