"For whosoever shall do the Will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother." Matthew 12:50

Finally, what does it cost us to sacrifice our carnal concept of life in order to live for Jesus Christ? Which becomes precisely the same as asking: what shall it cost me to keep the First Command?

WHAT is its cost? That depends on our state of mind.

What does it cost us to become so zealous for our Lord that friends and relatives think we have gone off the deep end? That becomes a price many are not able to pay. Jesus' mother and "brethren" went to lay hold on Him, thinking He was beside Himself. But what was Jesus' reaction?

WHO is my mother and brethren and kin?

Those who seek the Father's Will, and DO IT! (Matt. 12:50)

So long as we are "in the world and of the world" – with Lucifer as our chieftain, leading us by a ring in the nose – then the First Commandment is "out of bounds." And so long as we are but "respectable Christians," we shall fall far short of the First Commandment. But now our gracious Lord has made it easier for us, in that He has permitted Lucifer almost free rope. Consequently, the evil and tragedy of Hell's fomentations have become a stench in our face; hence easier to turn away.

Unto those who followed Him closely, the Lord Jesus made it clear that continuing to do so would mean "in the world ye shall have tribulation"; but IN HIM PEACE AND Joy abundant. Wherefore, so long as we have not cut the worldly ties, the "cost" appears far too great; but when indeed we have come to truly LOVE HIM, the cost equates to "singleness of vision" – yielding YOUR ABUNDANCE IN HIM....

Discipleship (a Sermonette)