Last weekend was a baptism celebration at Seneca Creek.  And the stories we heard were flat out inspiring. 

A PowerHouse kid challenging their friends.  A student making their faith real. A struggling single mom recounting God’s incredible faithfulness during the darkest hours.  And one young man telling his story of faith in Christ from a family of Buddhists.

Listening to Yongwen share his story, I was reminded that for so many people in this world, the decision to follow Christ, the decision to experience the life he offers, comes at a price.  Sometimes it’s the price of financial success.  Sometimes it’s the price of physical comfort.  Sometimes it’s the price of physical freedom.  And sometimes, as in his case, it’s the price of being rejected and misunderstood by those closest to us: our families.

And yet, they continue to choose.  Why?  Because they get it.  Because they’ve understood what we can easily forget: Life without Christ is really not life at all.  Because without the freedom he offers, there is no true freedom.  And because it’s worth any price that we might pay.  As Jesus said,

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?  Is anything worth more than your soul? (Matthew 16:25-26, NLT)

Not to be overly dramatic, but do you get it?  Is there a price you’re not willing to pay?  What are you wrestling with right now that God has asked you to give up in order to follow Christ in every area of your life?  Is it worth hanging on to it?  Do you get it?

-Pastor Mark