…For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, KJV)

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:12-13, KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son… (John 3:16, KJV)

I remember reading an autobiography of a mighty man of God many years ago. The things he did for God shocked me. I remember thinking, “If this is what it takes, I quit”. Thank God that I am going from glory to glory into His image! I’m not the same person that read that book many years ago.

I also remember early on when God spoke to me about forgiveness I thought, “There’s no way”. But these days, He doesn’t even have to mention it. When something happens I am quick to forgive because of His love, His Holy Spirit, His grace in me.

There was a time many years ago, He asked me to apologize to someone. My response to Him was, “I’m going to have to meditate love a little longer for that one.” Thank God His mercies are new every morning!

The Christian life has not always been easy. It is most definitely the road less traveled. And just when I think this is getting pretty easy, He asks a little more of me and it feels like I might break.

I won’t break. It’s just part of the process that is molding me into His image. And as I yield to His Holy Spirit in me, His grace in me, His love in me, the process isn’t quite so hard.

Jesus said in Luke 12 that those who would be His disciples should count the cost.

Today, as that phrase came up in my heart, it occurred to me that God counted the cost before sending His Son.

Redeeming us, cost Him His Son. And He decided you and I were worth the cost.

Jesus when He looked toward the future and the sin, disease, death and separation that He would have to endure on the cross and in hell decided you and I were worth it.

…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross… (Hebrews 12:2, KJV)

He counted the cost and endured the cross.

Often times we consider what it will cost us to follow Him. But when the things we are asked to lay down seem just too hard, let us look back to what it cost Him.

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (The Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. (Romans 5:8, Amplified)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son… (John 3:16, KJV)