LOVE COST

Love that doesn't cost is questionable. Love is sacrifcial, for John 3:16 says, For God so Love the world that He Gave His only begotten Son. This expression of love can be measured by the value of the gift given. God gives the best to secure a relationship of love with the worst. What manner of love is this. It is the situations of life that often strip us of dedication. When one loves with a Godly love, cost is not the issue. I was just back in Dayton to preach for a Lecture Series the pastors were hosting. I preached three nights, November 8-10 2005, a Tuesday -Thurday. I was scheduled to return to Greensboro, Friday the 11th. However, I had not seen my wife and daugther in a month. So I called the airline to change my ticket, from Greensboro to St. Louis and return to Greensboro on Saturday, only to find outr it would cost me $500. I readily said I will take it. My pastor friend said, are you going to spend $500 for one day at home. I said to Him when you love someone the cost doesn't matter if you have it to pay. Little did I know God would bring those words back to me and as I meditated on them in relationship to God and His people. I believe when we really love God we want care what it cost. Many say salvation didn't cost us anything, but I believe it cost us everything. Jesus says you must DENY yourself take up your cross daily and FOLLOW Him. If you are not willing to forsake father, mother you can't be His disciple. There is a great cost in being with the one you love. In John 12 after Jesus had raised Lazarus, Mary anoints Jesus feet with a very costly fragrance. It was valued at a years wages, some criticized her saying what a waste. I believe her love for Jesus exceeded the cost of the fragrance and what some saw as a waste she didn't think was enough. She was a discerner of valued. Jesus was more valuable to her than the fragrance. It says she wiped His feet with her hair. A womans hair is considered her glory. Her glory was only worth placing at the foot of Jesus. Is your love coming at a price or is it costing you nothing?