“You can sacrifice and not love. But you cannot love and not sacrifice.”
Kris Vallotton
One morning it was a struggle to get up earlier than normal, to spend time alone with God as my daughter led worship. As I sat down, I wondered why it was so difficult to get into God’s Presence and why it was so costly. Afterward, I told her it wasn’t long enough. I wished I had arrived earlier. Once you taste God’s Presence, you want to set up a tent and stay a while.
The cost has a direct correlation to the value of something. The greater the value, the greater the cost. If there was no sacrifice involved, the value wouldn’t be much. Love sacrifices. Love costs us something. Love gives up things for its Lover.
The parables of the lost coin, sheep, and son in Luke chapter 15 speak of the high value of each. It was worth the effort involved in searching for them and when they were found, there was a great celebration. We must hold significant value to God, for it cost Him His Son Jesus.
Rarely is anything of great value just handed to you. Typically, you need to set your mind on it, pursue it with all your heart, and be disciplined to attain it. If you want it bad enough, it will always be worth more than the sacrifice. The kingdom of heaven is just like that. Matthew 13:45-46 says, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Things of great merit cost us something. If you want to attain a doctorate degree, it will take time, focus, determination, discipline, and money. To become an Olympic athlete, one must make many sacrifices. Anything worthwhile in some way costs us something. But things of great value are worth the cost.
You’ve heard it said, “You get what you pay for.” How much is your relationship with Christ costing you? How much time do you invest in it? Do you desire Jesus, the Lover of your soul, more than anything or anyone else? If so, then pursue Him with your whole heart. The value of intimacy with God is well worth the cost.
“God will be our compensation for every sacrifice we have made.”
F. B. Meyer
Relevant Reflections:
1. How much is an intimate relationship with God worth to you?
2. What do you need to do to get into the Presence of God more often?
3. How much is your intimacy with God costing you?
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