To most of the people reading this blog, being a disciple of Jesus will not put your life in jeopardy. Few of us will ever know what real persecution for the sake of Jesus is. We won’t know what it’s like to gather in secret to worship and learn about Jesus. While thankfully that isn’t our reality, this blessing of freedom is not without consequence.
Because our faith puts us in no peril, we are prone to laziness and selfish pursuits. Serving Jesus becomes a secondary focus. We must consciously decide if following Jesus is worth it all, or if we will only give lip service to that commitment. It has often been said, but bears repeating here: Jesus is either Lord of all or He isn’t Lord at all.
Again, in the absence of challenge or threat to our faith, it is easy to proclaim our loyalty to Jesus. At worst we might be ridiculed or excluded. Even with only such a benign risk, we still often cower at the potential consequences of standing boldly for Jesus. That is evidence we do not consider Him to be worth everything. If we aren’t willing to stand for Him when there is no risk to our welfare, how can we expect to have the courage to live for Him if our freedoms would be lost?
The fact is we are too selfish and consumed with the pursuit of our own plans and dreams. We are not willing to pay the price for the sake of Jesus. We are unwilling to love as Jesus loved by paying no attention to what it might cost us. What impact might we have if we actually considered Jesus to be worth it all? What if our minds were so devoted to Him, our lives so dedicated to Him, that our only option was to stand for Him?
We have the ability to shake the world with the love of Jesus, but it will only be realized when we decide He is worth it all. If you don’t care if your neighbor goes to Hell, then God is not worth it all to you. If you don’t recognize the person you pass on the street has unsurpassable worth in the eyes of Jesus and as such is worthy of your love, then God is not worth it all to you. If the death of even one person who doesn’t know Jesus doesn’t break your heart, then God is not worth it all to you.
If Jesus isn’t worth it all, then He isn’t worth anything to you. This is black and white. It’s Jesus or your own desires. It’s your thoughts or His. No one will ever love you more. You will find no greater satisfaction and fulfillment than in Him. That’s what we get in return for making our lives all about Him. It is our reward for determining to live like He is worth it all. We’ve had more than enough lip service Christianity. Is Jesus worth it all to you?