Psalms 139:23-24
“23 Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
24 See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong — then guide me on the road to eternal life.”
Matthew 8:19
“And a scribe came up and said to him, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’”
Acts 17:6-9
“6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.”

An expert in the Torah commits himself to Christ because of Christ’s knowledge and wisdom, but Christ cautions him – are you ready to commit? Do you know what will happen, what the cost is and are you ready to pay that price?

Jason welcomed “these men who have caused trouble all over the world” and was brought before Caesar’s local government by a mob of anti’s where they had to post bond. The brothers took Paul and Silas out of the city after they had spent three days teaching, stirring things up, getting people thinking, challenging their paradigms, and upsetting the normal.

What’s the cost of following Christ? What’s the gain? Is it worth it to lay down what you have to follow Christ or would you rather have a genie in a bottle that will grant you the life you want?

What in your current life are you willing to give up to follow Christ? It’s a scary, unsettling question. Anything? Nothing, I don’t need to give up anything? What if He asks? Can you let it go? Or, what would you not let go?

Christ, God, the Holy Spirit investigate our hearts constantly, they know us better than Santa does. They will guide us if we let them, but there’s a cost for the reward. How rich are you to get something for giving up what you have?