It is funny how each of us knows that if we want something really badly we will have to work for it. We know that everything comes with a cost. If you want a healthy, physically fit body you have to work at it. If you want to be good at a specific hobby or skill you have to give greatly to that in effort or it just won't come in to fruition.

So why do you think that we forget that Gospel concept when comes to being a follower of Jesus Christ?

Look I don't want to guilt anyone into following Jesus but I do want you to know that it comes with a cost. Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 19:16-30. No seriously get out your Bible and open it up and read it. Wow that is intense huh?

The first thing he is trying to get this man to see is there is no one who is good but God. But the man really wants to know about getting into this awesome life. And Jesus says follow the law and yet immediately the man says I have kept the law. That is so like us as well. We look at the law and say I haven't murdered anyone (yet you have: Jesus), I haven't cheated on my wife (yet you have: lust), I don't steal (yet you have: in not tithing or offering where God has called you to), I don't talk bad about people (I don't even have to give you examples here do I). See we are just like this man saying I am good, I go to church, I help.

Thank God Jesus doesn't buy the smoke screen from this guy and thank God he doesn't buy the smoke screen from us either. Jesus wants our hearts not the stuff. And the young man asks "what do I still lack?" And Jesus cuts to the chase and says, "go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 

So what is he is saying? All in. It is not about being good because we are not good. Jesus is the only good and perfect one and we must claim and preach His work not ours. After that you must completely surrender your life in Jesus Christ. You must come to the realization that you do NOT own anything. And that is why this man went away sorrowful. Not sorrowful to miss out on this awesome like but sorrowful because he didn't want to let go of his possessions/life and trust Christ.

You see I think most of us DO want God to change our lives forever. We just don't want it to come at a cost.  Look through scripture on this concept. Everything that came from Jesus is beautiful, but it came at a cost of surrender, suffering, or sacrifice.

If you want God to change you, then you have to give Him your WHOLE life. To close this out please read Luke 9:57-62. You know what is cool about this; we are not in it alone. We have Christ's body (church) to help us walk this daily road.

God change us and mess with our lives. We need it.