The Cost?

A prophet once came to a city to convert its inhabitants. At first the people listened to his sermons, but they gradually drifted away until there was not a single soul to hear the prophet when he spoke. One day a traveler said to him, "Why do you go on preaching?" Said the prophet, "In the beginning I hoped to change these people. If I still shout, it is only to prevent them from changing me."

Our separation from the world through biblical standards and principles are non-negotiable. We will not negotiate with the world to become more acceptable by lowering our holiness lifestyle. Daniel proved that His service to God was not for sale. Daniel was a servant to Jehovah first, to the king next. Daniel refused to even deviate from His devotional schedule to accommodate for the risk he put his life in.

Where does your service for God fall? When you have time for it? When the boss is satisfied? When the family is satisfied? God is looking for men like Daniel who are sold-out for God. Daniel proved that we can serve God without neglecting our secondary commitments. The three Hebrew children best exemplifies this principle in their statement to the King: Dan. 3:17,18 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

No matter the consequences, their faith still stands as non-negotiable. Are you willing to have a faith that may cost you? Cost Moses Pharaoh’s Palace and authority. Cost the Apostle Paul his position and reputation as a Pharisee. Cost Jesus His Life.

WE CAN ONLY STAND SUCH A TEST, WHEN WE VALUE WHAT WE HAVE MORE THAN WHAT WE LOSE.

Jesus describes this attitude in the parable of the “Pearl Of Great Price”. We will never effectively serve God, until the Kingdom Of God is worth surrendering everything else in our lives. Daniel and the three Hebrew children valued the God they served more than their lives. Daniel had to be a firm believer that the path he had chosen was the best path and so must we. He trusted the path he had chosen and it brought blessing to his life. All that life needs to be for us is wrapped up in a single package: Jesus Christ. He’s all the direction we ever needed: He is THE WAY. He’s all the revelation we ever needed: He is THE TRUTH. He’s all the fulfillment we ever needed: He is THE LIFE.