Count the Cost

It isn’t easy to be a Christian—that is, a committed, growing Christian. It costs to follow Jesus. But it costs a lot more not to.

Jesus said to His disciples, "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you" (John 15:18–19).

This is hard to accept if you have been a popular person throughout your life and then become a Christian. You try to be loving and compassionate and helpful, and then people find out that you’re a Christian. So they give you a difficult time or make fun of you or spread lies about you. You think, This isn’t fair. I am so sweet and nice. Maybe you are. But the fact is that now you are a representative of Jesus. And effectively you will be treated as He was treated. The Bible says, "Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).

You don’t want to decide to follow Jesus on a whim, like making an impulse purchase at the store. Retailers count on you to think, Look at all this stuff! I don’t even know what this is, but I’m buying it.

When you decide to follow Christ, however, you need to count the cost. Jesus counted the cost when He went to the cross for you. He gave His life so you can be forgiven of your sin, so you can know that you will go to Heaven when you die.

He counted the cost for you. Will you count the cost and follow Him?