Are gifts free? Trouble Free?

Good morning everyone. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!

A couple of True and False questions.
1. Salvation is a free gift____ (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Discipleship is a costly pursuit ____ (Luke 14:25-33)

For Jeremiah, following God and obeying HIS will involved paying an enormous price: the price of lost comfort, restricted freedom (prison), and personal sacrifice (Jer 16:1-13). Jeremiah willingly endured some unusual restrictions in order to accomplish a unique mission in life.
In Luke, Jesus Christ encouraged his followers to sit down and count the cost. Salvation is a free gift, but discipleship may and can be a costly pursuit. How could following Jesus Christ cost you? It may mean giving up a thriving business? An ambition you had? The praise of many. We have to evaluate ourselves and see what is keeping us from following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Saviour.
Jeremiah, in his life, experienced voluntarily what Judah would later endure through God's judgment. Jeremiah was beaten and thrown in prison for being faithful to God. Are you willing to do this? Could you experience the persecution many of our brothers and sisters in Christ experience all around the world?
Evaluation time, just like in Jeremiah's time. Are you placing "Baal's" before God? Are you a head only Christian? A Sunday only Christian? You can talk the talk but cannot walk the walk. Jeremiah did. Jeremiah had a burden - being faithful to God. Do you have this burden? Tomorrow, there will come a last chance. Love you all.



In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny