It's Gotta Cost You Something

Saturday, January 22nd, 2011

Today's Passage: Luke 14: 25-33 
Memory Verse(s): Luke 14: 27

With the economy being so bad, there's a lot of talk lately about saving money using coupons.  I'm ashamed to say I always thought it was for elderly women who were retired and on fixed incomes.  Now I realize it's for anyone who needs a break financially.  There was a television show about a lady who managed to purchase a ridiculous amount of groceries -- something like five thousand dollars' worth-- for only a few hundred dollars over a period of time.  Everyone who saw the report agreed that it would be awesome to save so much money.

What they didn't mention was this lady's sacrifice that no doubt went into setting herself up to walk in such a blessing.  Every week, you must buy the newspapers containing the coupons (multiple copies).  In addition, you have to go online to the local grocery store websites for extra coupons that you could add to the ones you bought.  Furthermore, you have to find the time to look for weekly sales, clip the coupons that match the sales, and buy those items in question.

BUY, you may ask?  Yep-- I said it right.  In order to really benefit from the maximum savings, you have to INVEST money to purchase more than one of the items offered.  Sometimes you have to spend a certain amount of money before you can begin to see the savings.  What am I saying?  That this lady probably worked at couponing for quite some time before she saw such great returns.  In other words, you have to be willing to work at it over and over, as well as put in the time, money and diligence.

Sound familiar?  Our race as believers is no different.  We may fall into the trap of watching veteran Christians continue to be successful and become discouraged because everything may not be falling into place for us.  But nothing comes without a price, and nothing is worth holding onto if it didn't cost anything.  Today, we want you to concentrate on all the benefits of serving God with total devotion.  You'll find that those outweigh all the sacrifices you'll make for the rest of your life.

Prayer: Father, when I think about the price You paid for my salvation, I'm overwhelmed by the way You love me.  Please fill me with the desire to show You that same devotion.  Let every act of sacrifice bring You pleasure, and may others see the benefits through my life.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.