Counting The Cost

This morning I am convicted that following Jesus costs me nothing. I fear that I have had an additive approach with regard to Christ. That just like I have loved food or my home, I have loved Christ. I am convicted as I look in scripture and read the words of Luke 9:

"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:23-25 ESV)

I am convicted because I can see the immeasurable love of God toward me in the cost of the cross of Christ. I know that following Jesus to Scotland will cost me much, but oh the precious worth of the gospel. It is worth all. He is worth all. May I be like Paul and say,

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11 ESV)"