Abandonment Price

I heard the term abandonment price and for me, this is defined as letting go of fear of recrimination for the sake of a cause, something so profound that the risk of ridicule and alienation is extremely high and yet it does not impede a persons trajectory. In other words, the impelling urge to live a life of abandon is so strong that nothing else matters. Abandonment to what, you ask? What kind of price are we talking about here? I think of the Apostles, post crucifixion. Three days pasted, there was much weeping and mourning over the death of Christ. Prior to His death, Jesus experienced the despair of abandonment. His friends fell asleep and ultimately deserted Him in His time of suffering and need. Jesus came with a purpose, for a cause, and He kept His sights on this, with the hefty price of societal belittling, physical abuse and murdourous slander. The incalculable price He paid was the giving of His life, with all sins past present and future substitutionary paid, for you, for me. Imagine your shock if today you attend the burial of a friend and three days from now, they enter your home, with love in their eyes, despite how wickedly you treated them in their time of need? The opportunity to be sorry, forgiven and fortified in renewed fellowship would be an astounding gift, wouldn't you say? This would change everything for me, how about for you? This turn of events did change everything for these apostles and disciples~they knew without doubt who Jesus really is, the Living God. What they had not known, could never have anticipated or imagined, became a reality and their lives were changed forever and into eternity. Let's turn our gaze inward, shall we? What cause, what purpose moves you to abandonment of self protection, comfort, preservation? What makes you feel such aliveness that the price you potentially pay for living with such devotion is just plain old worth it because to not do so would be a pure and living hell? We live in community, members of families and other circles of closeness. Choices are not always popular or appreciated and yet, there is a calling, a voice that whispers when will you return to Me, honour Me, love Me, live and die, for Me? Lay it down, lay it all down, that is the request. Follow no other, have no other gods. Follow Me. I will leave you with this from the gospel of Luke 14:27 "And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."