OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SUNDAY 17 AUGUST 2014 - THEME: COUNT THE COST BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

RCCG OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SUNDAY 17 AUGUST 2014 - THEME: COUNT THE COST BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

MEMORY VERSE: And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

 
READ: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

MESSAGE

The Bible speaks of counting the cost in several passages. But counting the cost is particularly presented in a very powerful way in Philippians 2:5-8. Verse 5 of this scripture admonishes us to have the mindset that was also in our Master Jesus.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5

What mindset is the Bible talking about here? The succeeding verses answer this question. Jesus Christ is the Second Person of the Trinity. Before He took the form of a man, Jesus Christ as God the Son was a member of the Godhead, and therefore equal in power and authority with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. By accepting to take the form of a man, He relinquished His equality and became completely subordinated to the will of His Father. All these did not happen suddenly; it was not a spontaneous reaction. The Lord Jesus was able to accomplish this because He had counted the cost and had made a personal commitment to follow through with it. Despite the great personal loss to His Person in heaven, the humiliation, the suffering and death he had to suffer here on earth, He went through it all because it was a deliberate decision he consciously made. Jesus indeed counted the cost.

The lives of many Bible characters show that they were familiar with the principle of counting the cost. Abraham counted the cost. He properly understood the instructions of the Almighty God and followed through with it without looking back. He never at any time considered going back to his native country because he had counted the cost. The four Hebrew ambassadors were well aware of what was at stake the moment they got to Babylon. They quickly counted the cost and in Daniel 1:8, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego made a commitment to God that cost them their right to the king's table, because they had counted the cost and had made a commitment to follow through with it at all cost. They dared the lion’s den and the fiery furnace and came out victorious. The good news is that when you make up your mind with a strong commitment to serve the Lord at all cost, it attracts great heavenly rewards. Count the cost of going all the way with Jesus, count the cost of surrendering all to Him, count the cost of living holy, and then make a strong commitment to serve God at all cost. How committed are you to God?

ACTION POINT:

Father, please help me to be committed to You no matter what it takes, in Jesus’ Name.

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: LUKE 6:17-7:50 and JOB 23:1-13