Last year, as is the case every year, the New York Times put out an article that informed us that raising a child for the average middle-income family in the United States costs $222,360 from birth to eighteen. I don’t know about you but when I see this it can be a little disheartening, especially if you have four kids. This figure is before they go off to college too. Then they make the statement at the bottom of the article “Is it worth it?” Absolutely it is. Most of us would say any cost incurred in raising our kids is well worth it. What about our faith though?
It seems like there is a prevailing belief that faith is free. Our faith isn’t free though. It costs us daily and so the question beckons, “How much has your faith cost you?” Just last week we heard about what Jesus did for us. Jesus made several statements throughout scripture, which remind us that our faith is not free.
Luke 9:23-25 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
These are hardly the words of something that is free. And what about the Apostle Paul said? He makes several references to the fact that we were purchased through the blood of Christ. Even the word redemption means “bought back”. We once belonged to God but went our own way. Through Jesus Christ and his work on the cross and through the resurrection, we were bought back. So again I ask, “What has our faith cost us?”
In the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews the author talks about faith.
Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
Because of their faith, they responded in belief and it often cost them; Noah was ridiculed by his neighbors for building an ark when there was no rain, Abraham lived with uncertainty as he went out in faith not knowing where he was going, and this is not to mention the physical pain and imprisonment that the Apostle Paul and so many others endured.
It’s easy to get comfortable in our lives, even in our faith, and forget what it cost. It is especially easy and comfortable to do this in our country and forget that faith still costs. There are many of our brothers and sisters around the world who know first hand what their faith costs them. They are in prison or have beaten or threatened with their very lives. What about you? What has your faith cost you?
When we realize what it cost Jesus to redeem our life, it causes within us a response. We pay him back, although it will never be enough, with our own life. We give of ourselves so that others may have a chance to know this God who paid so much for us because he loved us that much. The Apostle Paul said it this way….
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
How much does our faith cost us? Everything. The more we come to realize God’s immense love for us, the more it calls us out in faith. The more we walk in faith, the more it costs us. Can we put a price tag on it? No. Is it worth it in the end? Absolutely. Have a great week!
Pastor Stan & Polly
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