thayes
11-11-2007, 11:13 AM
Luke 14:27-29
27) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29) lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him.
I have read this scripture many times, but this time it seemed to jump off the page. I considered the reason Jesus compared the cost of constructing a new building to the cost of taking up our cross and following Him.
Being a carpenter’s wife I’ve learned that it requires the tenacity of a bulldog and the willingness to pay the price with blood, sweat and tears in order to build a structure from the ground up. It is a slow and arduous process, requiring meticulous care and time to ensure a solid foundation with sturdy walls that can withstand the onslaught of the elements it will inevitably have to endure.
I took a long look at my husband and the weighty price he pays each day as he leaves for work early in the morning crisply dressed with a motivated spring in his step and returns dirty and tired yet undeterred. Even though he’s beat and his muscles ache, his eyes light up when he gives every detail of the day’s list of accomplishments because he knows the finished product is going to be a finely crafted work of art.
I have come to realize more and more that our walk is much like building a structure from the ground up. There are going to be days when the enemy will throw everything he’s got our way, there will be days when he attacks our health; there will be days when we wonder if we will make it. But the good news is that Jesus made the way for us to overcome every attack of the enemy. Jesus was crucified on the cross, resurrected from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father, sending His Spirit of Grace to reside with us. He guides our steps and strengthens our resolve. He gives us vision to see above our circumstances and into His eyes of Mercy making us immovable in our faith. He made provision in His word and through the power of His Spirit and we soar with the eagles.
Jesus is the Master Carpenter; He knows there will be days when the sun is so hot and the air so heavy we can barely breathe but He breathes on us His Holy Spirit and we keep going as He lines our frames with precious sapphires. He knows there will be days when everything goes wrong and we will be met with delay but His Word feeds us so we don’t give up as He lays our foundations with colorful gems. He knows that our muscles will ache so badly we won’t think we can make it but the song He’s given us keeps us going as He erects our walls made of precious stones. He knows the elements will painfully beat against our flesh begging us to retreat but His Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see His face as our pinnacles of rubies are formed by His gentle hand. He knows we must stay alert to the dangers that could take our very lives so His Holy Spirit guides each step and sets gates of crystal around our hearts. And with each and every day His eyes will light up as He gives to His Father every detail of His list of accomplishments in us knowing that in the end we will be finely crafted works of art.
We are built daily by His hand as we submit to His Master Plan. Let us consider the cost of taking up our cross and following Him. Let us have the tenacity of a bulldog and the willingness to seek His face at all cost that we may be adorned with the precious jewels of His Grace enjoying the abundant life He died to give His own.
27) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29) lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him.
I have read this scripture many times, but this time it seemed to jump off the page. I considered the reason Jesus compared the cost of constructing a new building to the cost of taking up our cross and following Him.
Being a carpenter’s wife I’ve learned that it requires the tenacity of a bulldog and the willingness to pay the price with blood, sweat and tears in order to build a structure from the ground up. It is a slow and arduous process, requiring meticulous care and time to ensure a solid foundation with sturdy walls that can withstand the onslaught of the elements it will inevitably have to endure.
I took a long look at my husband and the weighty price he pays each day as he leaves for work early in the morning crisply dressed with a motivated spring in his step and returns dirty and tired yet undeterred. Even though he’s beat and his muscles ache, his eyes light up when he gives every detail of the day’s list of accomplishments because he knows the finished product is going to be a finely crafted work of art.
I have come to realize more and more that our walk is much like building a structure from the ground up. There are going to be days when the enemy will throw everything he’s got our way, there will be days when he attacks our health; there will be days when we wonder if we will make it. But the good news is that Jesus made the way for us to overcome every attack of the enemy. Jesus was crucified on the cross, resurrected from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father, sending His Spirit of Grace to reside with us. He guides our steps and strengthens our resolve. He gives us vision to see above our circumstances and into His eyes of Mercy making us immovable in our faith. He made provision in His word and through the power of His Spirit and we soar with the eagles.
Jesus is the Master Carpenter; He knows there will be days when the sun is so hot and the air so heavy we can barely breathe but He breathes on us His Holy Spirit and we keep going as He lines our frames with precious sapphires. He knows there will be days when everything goes wrong and we will be met with delay but His Word feeds us so we don’t give up as He lays our foundations with colorful gems. He knows that our muscles will ache so badly we won’t think we can make it but the song He’s given us keeps us going as He erects our walls made of precious stones. He knows the elements will painfully beat against our flesh begging us to retreat but His Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see His face as our pinnacles of rubies are formed by His gentle hand. He knows we must stay alert to the dangers that could take our very lives so His Holy Spirit guides each step and sets gates of crystal around our hearts. And with each and every day His eyes will light up as He gives to His Father every detail of His list of accomplishments in us knowing that in the end we will be finely crafted works of art.
We are built daily by His hand as we submit to His Master Plan. Let us consider the cost of taking up our cross and following Him. Let us have the tenacity of a bulldog and the willingness to seek His face at all cost that we may be adorned with the precious jewels of His Grace enjoying the abundant life He died to give His own.