In the same way that God the Father sent and ordained His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, “to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord,” so has He sent those who choose to follow faithfully in Christ’s footsteps. Jesus Christ gave up everything to obey His Father’s calling, and those who choose to follow Christ will be required to do likewise. If we have been called to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God, we must ask ourselves, “Are we willing to pay the price?”

The cost is indeed great, but the rewards are greater still, in this life and in the life to come. In the words of one preacher, “To be a follower of Christ will cost you everything; not to be a follower of Christ will cost you a whole lot more!” Will we pay the price or will we not? That is the question. It will require us to lay down our lives for our friends and to love our enemies as ourselves.

1) Where will we find the resolve to do this?
2) How will we preserver during the hard times?
3) How will we put our hands to the plough and not turn back?

There are three answers to these three questions and they are one in the same.

1) Through “faith that works through love,”
2) through “the love of Christ that constrains us,” and
3) through “the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” “God is love.” Paul tells us, “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self seeking; love is not easily angered, and it keeps no records of wrongs. Love rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” We are called to bring God’s love to a world in need, and it is the love of God that bears us up upon His own wings and enables us to do so. Praise His Holy Name!


I have spent a good deal of my time and energy warning Christian believers about the importance of remaining faithful to Christ, and the consequences of failing to do so, because I am a exhorter in the Body of Christ. But, if the truth be known, this is an utter impossibility without a revelation of Christ’s faithfulness to us! It is only His love and faithfulness revealed to us, in us, and through us that can cause us to love and be faithful to Him, our families, the Church, and His human creation. When we are dead in our trespasses and sins, His love revives us. When we are blinded by self-centeredness, His love enlightens us. When we are tempted by Satan, His love sustains us. “God is love,” compassion, and mercy and it is in Him alone that we have hope. We can rejoice in this, however, because it is a hope that acts as a steadfast anchor to our souls, and it will see us through the storms of this life to the peaceful shores of the next life. “Now abide faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” When we are forced through dire circumstances to reach down deep within, that is where we will find Him. Jesus promised, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” “And this is that which overcomes the world, even your faith.” “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given unto Me, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” “Love never fails.” Amen!