Chapter ~ 2
Chapter 2 tells us the story of Nicodemus. Nicodemus had so much to lose if he took his relationship with Jesus ‘public’. Idleman tells us that being a secret admirer of Jesus costs us nothing. Being a follower has the potential to cost us everything. It cost Nicodemus his job, his wealth, his friends, his status in society, and more.
The author then asks us a really good question: “How has following Jesus interfered with your life”?
I really had to sit down and think about that one. I know it’s cost me some relationships with close friends who don’t believe. It’s cost me money when I tithe. It’s cost me a lot of time. But should it be costing me more? I look at what Nicodemus lost and I wonder, why have I lost so little compared to him? Is it because he turned into a true follower and I’m stuck in fandom?
Idleman mentions that Jesus doesn’t want to add a little makeup—he wants a makeover…a complete renovation...an overhaul. To me, all of those options sound costly and seriously hard to digest.
"But should it be costing me more?" - maybe the answer lies in the previous DTR talk? I don't know. Interesting question.
ReplyDeleteI cannot say that being a follower has cost me anything beside money when I tithe. I agree with Norm, should it be costing me more?
ReplyDeleteFor me if I lost a friend because I am a follower then they were not a friend. I can say it has probably saved me. Going back to me previous post about "i know this is not very Chrisitan but"......being a follower it also makes me think about my actions more and may sound cliche but it also reminds me that Jesus is watching me.
Cindy and I have gone back and forth with this....I think a lot as far as "giving up" or, whatever the "cost" is....is going to be so different for different people. Non-believers, for instance that come to Christ later in life than say someone who came to Christ in their early teens, or even younger, may have more to lose. That's obviously a generalization and there are exceptions but I think a lot depends on where you've been. People that grow up in a Christian household probably surround themselves with people and places that fit their belief system. Now, obviously, there are Christians that are legalistic and worship the traditions and pageantry more than actually following Christ, and for those my scenario won't hold water. And, possibly, the idea of "what it costs" may hit home with them a bit more?!? I don't know. However, I think, generally, it just depends as to the cost. I also think we need to careful about comparing what it cost for us to other individuals. Pretty much what I just mentioned before. Once we start comparing to other humans, we are bound to fail when we are using that as a gauge for our attempt at following Christ. Examples are great, but Christ works in each of us differently.
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