The Counted Cost
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It was at the Fourth of Matthew’s Gospel that the Savior called four fishermen off their jobs to follow Him in the course of His earthly ministry. Peter, Andrew, James, and John all willingly complied. Later, it would be the mother of James and John who would ask the Lord to seat her sons at His right and left hands in His Kingdom. Though likely not knowing the significance of the cup and baptism of the Lord’s suffering, the brothers agreed to both in hopes of achieving their also misunderstood ambition. As the Lord subsequently promised, suffering did come their way, and the Twelfth of Acts records James’ execution as ordered by Herod Agrippa 1. At Second Timothy Three, Paul declared that all who had lived godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions. Regardless of what form those persecutions may take, may each of the Savior’s faithful heed His calling, and do so with full knowledge of the counted cost.
Written and voiced by David Hayes Prophater