2018--Pondering by the Lake of Galilee
(Jesus speaking: ) As I sat at the beach side of that Galilee lake, I picked up one stone after another, examining them. The sun was slowly rising; the smell of fish was strong. I was taking time to ponder about My life’s work and calling. 
Like each of these stones, each of the people were different. Story ideas would come to me. Things I could use to help get the message and ideas through to the hearts and minds of the people. 
“Would you like to go to Heaven?” is a question often asked. But “would you like to endure the shame and struggle of being a full hearted believer in Christ who came to save all mankind if they would give up their selves to belong to Him entirely, having no longer control of their life?” has a different feel to it. 
Most might like to accept the first proposal—who wouldn’t want the cake at the party? But are you willing to go out to be rebuffed, mistreated, get tired, weary and hungry to go around and call as many to the party as will listen?
When at last you surrender to doing the hard work, you find that others have been putting up signs around town; they have been making announcements on the radio, and doing silly mock plays, all for the purpose of discrediting the offer you are being sent out to make. It all makes it harder.
But the tables must be filled, and so you must go and try to find those hungry enough to accept. You find the hungry and those most mistreated by the well-off and self-satisfied are the ones that listen the most eagerly. They need all they can get, and even if there is a whisper of a hope that what you says is right, they want to clasp on to it. 
But you find, to your surprise, that there are those who seem to be well to do and who appear to not need anything, are also terribly in need. It’s just that their hunger comes in a different way, and took longer for them to reach the point of realising they were really in actual need. The needs of the heart, when finally detected, can only be filled with the hope and words of invitation that you come to share. So, some of these take you up on your offer. They are aware that many of those putting up posters and warning against your message are scammers and are doing it for money or greed or jealousy. 
At last you come back tired and fully spent. You almost feel embarrassed at the few customers who accepted to come. But you have done what you could, you are assured of this by the Master of the party. You are glad you have a place at the table, and some of those there are there because of your labour to compel them to come in.
So what does this all mean?
If you preach the Gospel, it’s going to cost you—your life in many cases, as is proving so by many.
But fleshly life and death is nothing compared to the rewards in the hereafter. 
There are many fighting against the truth being told, but they aren’t doing it because they will get reward, just because they are paid off to do so. Truth costs you, rather than giving you wealth and Earthly reward. “Buy the truth and sell it not.” It costs you much, as it’s a giving thing. If it is not costing you something, then you must not be giving that much; just maintaining. If you are rather gaining and stacking up things on earth for yourself, then who are you taking it from? Who is benefiting from your receiving here and now?
If you are giving more than getting, and if it’s costing you your reputation and image to give Me and My message to others, then you most likely are more on track. 
It’s a cost, not a pay. That is the truth; genuine truth costs.
What is it costing you? Everything? Good. Then you are truly, giving 100%, and that gets the highest marks in My book. 
It cost Me everything—all My time, and My future life on Earth; and certainly reputation.
How much will you give up for Me? I gave you My all—and am willing to share My all with you.
I am come that you might have life—life hereafter, life eternally, life forever. 
But it’s not free. It might not—and should not—cost you a cent to receive this gift of eternal life, but it certainly will cost you something, like it did for Me. How much do I want in return for this free gift? All of you. Since it is priceless, it can’t be bought or sold, but it can be given freely to those that offer in return their most valuable possession—their heart and life, their mind and their very being. 
“He that loseth his life shall gain it.” 
It’s a trade, My life for yours. Only Mine lasts a whole lot longer and will go on and on. It’s a wise move to let Me fill you and power you up. Your life won’t end then. 
“Cast your bread” –your life, your substance—“on the waters, and you will find it, after many days.”
“He that forsaketh not all that He hath, cannot be My disciple.”
I offer you all, in return for My all. 
Will you take it?
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