Never has God given me a message entirely in poem form. A message that would need to be delivered soon. Very soon. I am concerned many fall away simply because they did not count the cost of following Christ. The cost that in some countries will cost your very life. Perhaps here one day? I often wonder how we will fair in our part of the world should chaos break out and the need to hear the voice of Jehovah Sabaoth (Lord of hosts) as He beckons His army. Will we hear Him? Maybe this is why the message is so critical. Today we think it much sacrifice to give a day of volunteer service or grab the “extra” cash in our purses for a worthy cause…yet we have no idea what true sacrifice is. The meaning of denying self. In some countries a Bible is not allowed..yet we consider it a sacrifice to open ours one Sunday morning a week. While others hunger for the life sustaining power of God so much that they literally cram the pages of the Bible into their mouths upon their first sight of it..

My life before Jesus was predictable and much less difficult. I had many friends and circles in which I ran. What everyone failed to tell me was that all of that would likely change upon my committment and lavish love for Jesus. Soon I came to know the “cost” of following Christ. Much persecution followed to which I did not know how to handle in my early years with Christ. I can tell you after several years in ministry..when the persecution, rejection, and wounds come..it is still not easy. Today the persecution is greater, discernment is as critical as breath, and certainly my circle of friends has changed many times and become quite less. Someone told me that the further into ministry I would go..the lonelier it would become. I didn’t understand fully…but now I do. Certainly the difficulty does not outweigh the beauty of my walk with Him and giving Him full authority over my life. It is a decision I would gladly make again. For He gave His life that I might have eternal life. Life everlasting. Abundant Life. Royal position. A Love that is constant and never changes..even on my worst days or when my mess becomes a mountain. I could not go without my crazy adventures with Him. Our love letters exchanged…intimate walks and talks…and the joy of singing and writing that which He sings and writes to me. The blessing of sharing His faithfulness with others, and learning that alone is never alone and even lonliness He uses to make sure I can answer this one question authentically and honestly…”Shelly..am I enough?”

We are in a culture where wrong is right..and right is wrong. How did we get here? Maybe because the church isn’t the church? Maybe because the “Nathan’s” of our day have gone silent? Or maybe because we have removed love from truth or truth from love..both rendering an unbalanced gospel more prone to wounding than saving. I heard Anne Graham Lotz say on an interview this week something that grabbed my heart as I whispered..”yes..” She said “Just because there is a church ..doesn’t mean it’s God’s church.” Similarly just because there are “Christians” does not mean they are followers of Christ..The WAY.

So shall we take an inward look…you and I. Are we truly following Christ? Count the Costs. For it will cost you Everything..

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[pullquote_left]Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25[/pullquote_left]

There is a cost that you must count
One forgotten few talk about..
To live by dying a painful death
That we shall not go back instead.
The cost very well will cost you alone.
Where friends may fade, you may lose your home.
Where blessings they come but wrapped in a way
That pierces through skin leaving life long stains.
The cost itself should bring anguish of heart
For the lost of the world and those who think they are not.
For betrayal will become a recognized sting
You will be overlooked for the world’s grander things.
Is this mere surprise? For Jesus told it forth
They looked for a King of worldly sorts.
Missing the one who sat on a throne
Who came to this earth to serve the unknown.
The cost at times will crush as you bear.
It will take you to the brink of utter despair.
It will ask you to leave all you’ve known behind
To follow the path of the Great Adonai.
There will be roads narrow to walk
You’ll listen to deceit and lots of cheap talk.
For this road it will swallow what needs to be gone
You will have to choose between right and wrong.
What beauty His hands can mold in this hour
If we will submit to the pruning of flowers.
For growth can not happen without cutting away
All that is useless on the narrow way.
What you thought to be may really not be
Lay your plans down and offer to thee
All that is in you is for more than you
Your plan and purpose is for the multitudes.
The cost will cost you all of yourself..
Self is no longer once you have knelt
Destinies and callings by providential design
If used for yourself..then you are blind.
Satan is waiting with his kingdom keys
Shall you reach out and take one of these
You may well forfeit your promise land
So learn to be fed by only His hand.
Little things are big things
So think not it small
To sow into things not pleasing at all
For He’s a Holy God who judges thee fair
So, tell me today what we watch, hear, and wear?
His heart for the church is one of pure love
But He’s quite heartbroken at the lack thereof.
For ritual and position have taken the place
Of loving thy neighbor and keeping them safe.
Our eyes they are focused on selfish gain
When washing feet was how He spent His days
From town to town He went where they were
Spent very little time within the walls of a church.
He always chose to go for the ONE
Leaving the flock to reach the undone
Speaking with love to lift their heads
And offering Royal Seats instead.
Warning against temptation of greed
Money, fame, position, prestige
That we might not fall to idolatry
But to freedom with Christ to our destiny.
So now can we take an inward look.
Can you and I say we’re off the hook?
For I am guilty of many a fall
So let me be first to repent of it all.
Can we lay down our lives and control
My life, your life..is no longer our own.
For there was a day He hung on a cross
When He was quite able to call the whole thing off.
For when He prayed please remove this cup
He surrendered to the will of His Father above.
Praying until His tears turned to blood.
So tell me now what is the cost of this kind of love?

Love Much,

Shelly

*[box_light] The audio message “The Cost of Following Christ” was delivered at a recent September 21st Ladies Night Out. Shelly Wilson shares a message the Lord placed on her heart and urged a look into our own hearts. To listen to this live recording please go to the home page and click on DQK Radio. The message will air on HLERADIO.com on September 29, 2013. You will have a sneak peek here on dramaqueenministries.org.[/box_light]