Pastor Joe Sanders - October 23, 2011
Radical Living for Radical Rewards
Almost everyday we make decisions based on a risk-reward evaluation. We think, "What is the least that I can risk on this for the greatest reward?", or, "If I take this huge risk, is the reward worth it?" Its often based on this line of thinking that we make decisions. So when Jesus talks about following him into persecution, division within our families, pain, rejection, carrying a cross, we run our little risk/ reward calculation. And we often count the cost as being far too high. What he is asking us to give up is too costly or impossible to get back in return. Our hearts' focus is in the wrong place, we seek the wrong things, and we look to the wrong source to satisfy us. The amazing thing about the call of Christ is that he calls us to follow him into some impossibly difficult settings but he also promises that the greatest rewards await us when we do. If we go through our entire lives thinking that living a certain way will bring us all happiness and that way is not God's way, are we prepared to find out at the end of time that all that we ever wanted is found in God through Jesus? Following Christ leads us to joy, life, treasure. Will we make ourselves a blank check that God can spend any way he wants to? Will we follow him any and every where?
Scripture References: Matthew 10:24-39