MEMORY VERSE: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, John 3:16.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 7, Ps 42-43, Sng 5, Heb 5
Love is not cheap, it costs something. Anyone who loves free stuff should forget about love because it comes at price. One of the prices sisters have to pay depending on culture is that they have to drop their maiden names and pick up the surname or last name of the brother they get married to. In other words they have to drop their identity and assume a new identity. Not only that, they have to move from a known territory (her father’s house) to an unknown territory (husband’s family) also depending on cultures. They have to move from a place where 24 hours unconditional love is guaranteed to a place where it might not be guaranteed especially if the bro is not God fearing. A bro who is not God fearing can just wake one morning and ask for divorce or worse still marry a new wife. This is why before you say 'i do’, get all clear from God first. One of the prices brothers have to pay is that what used to be ‘my salary’ now becomes ‘our salary’. Not only that, they are expected to love regardless even if the sister is the carbon copy of the devil! It even gets worse if the sister lacks the fear of God because anytime she can decide to have a boyfriend or sugar daddy, worse still ask for a divorce and take half of what you have worked for all your life. The cost is even greater when bro and sister begins to have kids because they have to channel all their resources – time, money, energy to the children in the name of love.
The love relationship between God and man is an expensive one too. This relationship cost God His one and only begotten son – Jesus. John 3:16 says for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. God knowing what men is capable of and what they are going to do to His son, He gave Jesus. Jesus did the same thing to. He knew Peter would deny Him despite all He would do for him. He knew Judas would betray Him, despite all the trust He would give to him. He knew that many He died for would accept Him as their personal Lord and savior but refuse to witness. He knew some of whom He died would claim he did not die for them. Despite all these, out of love he still decided to die for the entire world. The love relationship between God and man will also cost man something. Abraham to prove His love for God had to pay a very expensive price. He had to sacrifice Isaac - the son of his old age. A son he waited for over twenty years to have. Paul too out of love had to sacrifice a very profitable career to be a witness for Christ.
Friends, your love for Christ will cost you something. It cost Jesus His life on the cross of Calvary and it will definitely cost you something. You cannot really say you love Christ until that love has cost you something. I remember several years ago, while the pastor was preaching the Lord pointed my attention to the old wooden pulpit he was preaching from and I understood. I exhausted my savings and bought a brand new glass pulpit. It wasn’t a convenient thing to do but just like David said I will never give God an offering that cost me nothing, 1 Chronicles 21:24. To really love God, you must be ready for many inconveniences. Your love for Christ will cost you your sleep, strength, resources e.t.c. True love is expensive at times it might even cost you your job. During my final hearing case at work, one of the key evidences against me was a written testimony from a fellow I witnessed to and a note from one of my bible studies. They said I spent more time reading the bible and preaching than doing the job I was paid to do which was a big lie. Real love costs something but there is also a reward. Abraham gave Isaac to God and He got the land of Israel in return. Several years ago I gave all to buy a pulpit for God; today God gave all to rescue me from sure defeat at work. God Himself gave Jesus, but today He has over a million children all over the world including you and me.
PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to really love you as I should.
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