6.5.8 "How Much Does it Cost?"

"How Much Does it Cost?"

2 Samuel 23:24-24:25
Acts 3:1-26
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 16:21-23

"i don't want to offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that have cost me nothing." 2 Samuel 24:24

Why not? Why not do the minimum God requires? God had instructed David to offer a sacrifice. This was in repentance of his taking a census. all God told him to do was offer the sacrifice on the threshing floor of Araunah. God didn't specifically say, "go pay for it.", so what's the big deal?

The difference is the big picture. It's knowing what God wants to complete in you. Forgiveness is free, but Repentance costs. Too many times what we think is repentance is merely a ritual of confession with no cost attached. To illustrate this point, I asked a friend to stand next to me while I was teaching a class. I kept slapping him & saying "I'm sorry." He was kind enough to stand there and not pummel me. I would confess my sin to him when I'd slap him, but there wasn't any repentance because I just kept on doing it. There's probably alot of Christians out there who think the apology of "I'm sorry" is repentance.

How much does "I'm sorry" cost? I guess that depends on the level of pride. It can be tough to be the first to apologize sometimes, but to repent... that's another price bracket. There needs to be a turning, an intentional effort that must be placed on establishing a "landmark" that this wont happen again. (build an altar).

When the Lord addresses sin in my life, I need to check on whether my "i'm sorry" is an act of ritual confession, or true repentance. What will it cost me to repent? What landmark will I place on my heart to make sure I don't go there again?

As we mature as believers we must not lose the concept of the cost of repentance. Treating repentance casually opens the door to habitual sin, compromise, idolatry, sin in the camp, etc.

Peter says to the Jewish people near the temple, "Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19)

We must turn away from anything that doesn't please God. We must work to cleanse our attitudes so that we can turn toward him, and allow his presence to fill us. Allow him to forgive our sin and purify us. Then we must discipline ourselves to stay the course and not go back the way we came.

The highest form of worship is obedience. We can't have the attitude that "i will obey as long as it costs me nothing." We must have the heart that drives us to say, "I will obey no matter what the cost."




Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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