that which costs me nothing
Many people have good-naturedly poked fun at us for being sent to "paradise" to live and minister. "Suffering for Jesus, huh? Wow, how'd you get that assignment? I'll trade places with you!" We've heard all the funny comments. One teenage girl, also from another pastor's family commented, "The Bahamas....how is there suffering in that?" And even if you haven't said it outright to us, you might have been thinking it!
King David makes a statement in 2 Sam. 24:24 that has always stuck in my mind and heart. "No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing." David knew he was a sinner and that he did not deserve for someone else to provide his sacrifice. He had been the recipient of God's mercy so many times in his life, that he felt compelled to offer whatever God required of him.
God sees to it that his children never live lives of cheap obedience. Christ was the most costly price ever paid. And our response is to offer our lives back to God...whatever that may require. If we try to offer God something that costs us nothing, there is no true heart change, no pain, no suffering in the offering. This would not glorify God and exalt Him as worthy.
So just rest assured that although we are living in "paradise," God is seeing to it that there is pain in the offering. I will not list every way in which we feel a sting by living here, but the challenges are real and ongoing. And it's good for us. It keeps us dependent on the Lord and aware that we need His grace each day. And here's a little tidbit...if you feel that lately your life has been easy, breezy and free of suffering...perhaps you need to consider David's words..."I will not offer offerings to the Lord that cost me nothing..." God is worthy of our suffering. And any suffering we experience on this earth is a drop in the bucket compared to the joy set before us in heaven.
King David makes a statement in 2 Sam. 24:24 that has always stuck in my mind and heart. "No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing." David knew he was a sinner and that he did not deserve for someone else to provide his sacrifice. He had been the recipient of God's mercy so many times in his life, that he felt compelled to offer whatever God required of him.
God sees to it that his children never live lives of cheap obedience. Christ was the most costly price ever paid. And our response is to offer our lives back to God...whatever that may require. If we try to offer God something that costs us nothing, there is no true heart change, no pain, no suffering in the offering. This would not glorify God and exalt Him as worthy.
So just rest assured that although we are living in "paradise," God is seeing to it that there is pain in the offering. I will not list every way in which we feel a sting by living here, but the challenges are real and ongoing. And it's good for us. It keeps us dependent on the Lord and aware that we need His grace each day. And here's a little tidbit...if you feel that lately your life has been easy, breezy and free of suffering...perhaps you need to consider David's words..."I will not offer offerings to the Lord that cost me nothing..." God is worthy of our suffering. And any suffering we experience on this earth is a drop in the bucket compared to the joy set before us in heaven.
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