I got ta thinking yesterday (note the fine formal English, but I was tired when I was thinking, so my English wouldn't have been very precise at the time). Kathy and I were talking about one of the big ironies of the Gospel. Maybe you never thought of the Gospel as being ironic, but it can be in places.

Jesus came that we could be reconciled to God. That's the ultimate form of healing. Yet when we accept Christ and our lives begin to be transformed, there are often rifts that develop in relationships. Christians can be rejected by family and friends because of their newly found faith.

The irony is that if the family and friends who reject us would only listen to the truth we've found, the relationships could be not only healed but also strengthened for all of eternity. In rejecting us because of our decision to accept Christ, they often reject the very thing that could bring them wholeness as well.

Some friends and family simply won't want to have anything to do with you as a believer. Others will "accept" you as long as you don't talk about that "faith stuff" or "religion" and don't act differently than you did before Jesus. They don't understand that a true conversion is a change of heart, mind and behavior. It's not the sort of thing you simply take off at the door.

For many people picking up the cross daily and counting the cost is in terms of recognizing that relationships have been severed, perhaps forever.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25- 33 NIV

In my case, there are many family members who will only offer the conditional acceptance that comes if I compromise my faith or don't speak of it. They only wish to see me if I can be the person I was before Christ changed me. As much as I love those people, that is a cost that is too high for me to pay. I've made my decision to carry the cross with Christ and I can't lay it down for the approval of others.

It breaks my heart to feel the separation from family and I pray every day for them to know the Lord, but I know that each of us must make our own choice about Jesus and I must accept theirs. I know that the love of Jesus that separates us could also restore us and give us better relationships than ever before, but I can't force them to look to Christ.

Accepting Jesus is a free gift because we are saved by simply accepting Him. We can't earn His love. We don’t deserve forgiveness. We simply have to accept it.

Yet being a Christian can be costly. Truly giving yourself over to Jesus takes sacrifice and sometimes isn't easy. Becoming a believer is free but it isn't cheap.

It can be hard but I promise it is worth it. Even if I never got to heaven (and there is no doubt that going there is my destiny), accepting Christ has given me unconditional acceptance, freedom, forgiveness, love and growth. It has brought me along the path of happiness and wholeness. He's made me a better father, a better husband, a more reliable friend and an all round better person. I'm more honest and open now than ever before. I've seen the lives of others being transformed and I've been privileged to participate in some of those changes. It has been worth the cost and then some.

Until next time, count the cost, but don't forget to weigh the cost against the benefits. The scale will tilt heavily in favour of the benefits.

Be blessed.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)!

Kevin