Does the benefit outweigh the cost?

A quick Google search showed that people have asked this question on a wide range of topics – college, organic food, legalization of marijuana, marriage, cell phones – just to name a few.

April 1st has come and gone, but my pastor has said in the last week: “It’s still Easter! The tomb is still empty!”

As I reflect on this amazing truth, there have been two songs in my heart and on my lips (I’ll share those in a bit).

All this has been swirling in my mind and soul and then this morning, this question joined the party:

Did the benefit outweigh the cost?

Did the benefit outweigh the cost for God? Was the return on the investment worth it? Was the price He paid for the salvation of humanity – not even for the guarantee that we would believe, but for opportunity, the invitation – was it worth the Father giving His one and only Son?

ABSOLUTELY.

I am awestruck and humbled, searching for the words to rightly express the gratitude for the Great Exchange.

His life for mine.

His righteousness for my sin.

His forgiveness for my guilt and shame.

His love for my soul.

One of the songs I can’t stop singing is Death Was Arrested by North Point InsideOut. I had trouble making sense of the word “arrested” so I asked my friend, Webster. From his definition, I found that yes, Jesus seized death by His authority; He made it inactive. He caught it suddenly and brought death to a stop.

Why?

This brings me to the next song: Reckless Love by Cory Asbury. This song speaks volumes to me, but I had to wrestle with that word “reckless” for some time. Webster helped me out again, with this definition: “marked by lack of proper caution: careless of consequences; irresponsible.”

God Himself is not reckless. He had all this planned before we were born – a plan for redemption and restoration; He made a way for us to have relationship with Him, through His Son, Jesus.

He did whatever it took – pouring out His reckless love, sending His Beloved to die in our place… so death could be arrested, the grave overcome, the enemy silenced and defeated.

“This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice (as the One who would turn aside His wrath), taking away our sins.” – 1 John 4:9-10

The words of the song How Deep The Father’s Love For Us have been taking root in my spirit for the last week or so.

His love overlooked the cost, even if for a moment, when the Son was nailed to the cross and forsaken by the Father, so that we could reap the benefit of salvation, wholeness, abundant life, restored relationship, and eternity with God. His love was careless of the consequence because He cared so much for us.

We were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23).

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” – Romans 12:1

In view of His mercy, with the understanding that we were bought at a price, may we offer our bodies – our daily lives, our time – back to Him.

I try to read a few different devotionals every morning with my coffee, and one that I’m usually challenged by is “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. This quote (referring to 2 Corinthians 5:9) has stuck with me… “Paul is like a musician who does not heed the approval of the audience if he can catch the look of approval from his Master.” We won’t need the fleeting approval of the audience if we can just catch a glimpse of loving approval from our Heavenly Father.

“Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions.” – 2 Corinthians 5:9 (MSG)

Let’s make it our goal, our aim, our ambition to please the Father.

It’s not a striving, this pleasing the Father. It’s often slowing down enough to realize that He is already pleased with us.

It is by grace that we’ve been saved (see Ephesians 2:1-10). Because of His great love for us. Because He is rich in mercy. We’ve been given this free gift, but our lives should look different, because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, because the Holy Spirit lives in us. We are new creations!

God is pleased with you because You are His; when He looks at you, He sees Jesus… His love covers our sin and shortcomings.

But this reckless love, this gift of grace, motivates us to live lives that please the Father, that bless His heart, that point others to Him.

We were created in His image, and we are being transformed into His likeness as we draw near to Him.

May we sow to the Spirit, not the flesh. May we walk by faith, not by sight. May we receive His love and be changed from the inside out. May our faith and love be evident by our words and actions.

There’s another cost-benefit analysis to consider: does the benefit of being a follower of Christ outweigh the cost? Does the benefit of having that relationship restored outweigh the cost of not living for the world anymore?

I pray we can answer as emphatically as He did…

ABSOLUTELY.

❤️

You are so loved. Be loved today.

(I have to share one more song! As I was writing this blog, my dear friend in Washington sent me this song…so timely! 🙂 I had to include it… Saved My Soul by City Alight. Enjoy!!)