Is it worth it?

Being a disciple must have been the greatest thing on Earth! To follow Jesus. To be chosen to walk around and be known as a follower of the Christ. Go with Him everywhere, see His miracles, hear His teachings, and be front and center in the action! They even got to walk in His power and see miracles from their own hands. Their life seemed amazing. Easy. Walking with the Lord and trusting Him everyday. Leaning on His strength and not worrying about a thing. Not that perfect. They all had their doubts and fears like we do. But walking side by side with the Lord in flesh seemed like nothing else was as perfect.

The Bible says MANY are called but FEW are chosen. Who calls? God. Who chooses? Us. We choose if we walk the narrow path that we have been called to. It goes along with free will. If you notice, there were very few disciples. Ever wonder why that is? The sacrifice. They paid a price to walk with the Lord. They left their jobs, their families, their hobbies, their animals, and some even lost their names, identities. They chose that life. They gave up everything. Literally, everything, to follow Jesus. Wow. To think about it, it's like I don't even know what else to say at this point.

They gave up their identity and their lives. You know what, God is requiring the same from us if we want to be his disciples, or followers. What we hold dear to us, we must lay it down. Our life as we know it will be turned upside down if we follow Him. Our life is not our own any longer and we become "dead to this world and alive unto God." But we don't have to!! It's our choice how far into God we go. But there are levels, and the highest level is the highest price. The best thing is, what we give up in this world is all temporary and it will all vanish and turn into nothing. We gain everything when we follow God with our lives.

Let me tell you from experience. This giving up thing is not easy. It's so hard. So hard. Certain areas in all of our lives, God will ask us to give something up that won't be too hard. Then there will be those things that feels like you are ripping in to pieces. Although we aren't flesh walking with Jesus like the disciples did, and it seemed like it might have been easier for them, it's just the same if not easier for us. We have the Holy Spirit. We have a new nature. We can walk with the same exact power, and do miracles and mighty things that Jesus never even got to do on this Earth! So rejoice!

So if you feel like I did not so long ago, and you think it isn't worth it, let me tell you. It is so worth it. When you lay down your life and become an open vessel and humble servant to the Lord and make it known your life is His now and not your own, then you will begin changing and become transformed. The grace to succeed that comes with obedience will mesmorize you! And when you are standing before a blind 5 year old little girl and you watch God heal her with your hands, you will look back at what seemed like unbearable pain and suffering now, and say, "It was all worth it." I want to be that person. Will you join me in the race? Lay down your life, pick up your cross, and run, don't walk, RUN after Jesus!