A few steps ahead

Based on 2 Samuel 3-5, Luke 14:25-35

"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish." Luke 14:27‭-‬30.

It's easy to get caught up in everyday life, carrying every care upon ourselves, not sure what to take with us & what to leave behind...but in order to take up a cross and hold on to Jesus, we need to let go of some of those things. Some of those things of our past need to be nailed to the cross & forgotten...but I know what you might be thinking, "It would be harder to carry a cross than all the rest of this stuff!" And you know what? It's not supposed to be easy...but the difference is the God factor! If it's a God journey, carrying a cross instead of cares & worries, HE WILL GET YOU THROUGH! When you count the cost, the best cause is always the cross!

Although there was not a cross to look to yet in David's time, there was still a God! And David always counted the cost & consulted The Lord to be sure he was pleasing God before anyone else. He put aside the care & worry of embarrassment. He didn't care who mocked him, because he knew God would give him favor in the end! He was a few steps ahead of his friends AND enemies, because he chose God first!

"Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest." 2 Samuel 3:24‭-‬25.

Joab argued with David about the decision to be peaceful with Abner. This was the guy that killed Joab's brother...how could David do such a thing!? While David did kill many Philistines, he knew when it was time to kill and when he should hold himself back because he always sought The Lord first! God kept David a few steps ahead of himself so he wouldn't make unwise choices (although he wasn't perfect & did mess up sometimes, he did have a repentant heart & sought The Lord again EVERY TIME!).

"And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:" 2 Samuel 3:27‭-‬28.

David was not responsible for this death, and in the eyes of The Lord, he was guiltless! And when we come to the cross, being repentant like David, baptized in Jesus' Name & receive the Holy Ghost, we become guiltless too...but as David still had responsibility for his kingdom, we still have the responsibility of a cross. Have we counted the cost? Will God make it alright in the end? Is the cross worth it? What if people mock us? Are we able to finish what we've started??

As with David, God keeps us in favor when we choose Him & His ways. And that way is to carry a cross instead of being distracted by the cares of this life. The cross isn't easy, but it's more worth it than anything else we carry around in this life! Remember, after the cross there's a Resurrection! On that cross was our God! Again, HE WILL GET US THROUGH! As we take those steps toward Calvary, Jesus will keep us steps ahead of the enemy. Steps ahead of those who we thought are our friends who argue with us & mock us. GOD WILL KEEP US...all the way to eternity!