Anything worth having is going to cost something. I say this to those who unite with the church seeking to give their life to Christ. It costs a great deal to follow Christ. On my first day of college, the professor gave each student a syllabus. The syllabus provided information about the requirements needed to pass the course. No one would be able to complete the class successfully without counting the cost. Let me repeat again, there is nothing worthwhile in life that does not have a cost. Parenting our children is costly; the emotional and spiritual requirements that are needed are far greater than the material responsibilities. In Luke 14:28, we find these words:

“’But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?’”

Those whom Jesus chose did not completely understand the cost of discipleship. He wanted those who would seek to follow Him to be aware that it would be a long tedious journey and failure was not an option. In this same chapter, He goes on to talk about the conditions of discipleship. Read this entire chapter when you get a chance. Prayerfully, we will each glean lessons for our lives. Remember, the race is not given to the swift but to those who endure to the end. This is a long tedious journey. There are no shortcuts or detours, but thanks be unto God- it pays to serve Him and the reward at the end is greater than the cost.