COUNT TO TEN 2/19/12

HOW BLESSED we are to have ten fingers and ten toes; at least most of us do. I imagine that most of us used these digits to learn how to count. Sometimes I catch myself using my fingers even now. Nothing wrong in that! God gave them to us for many purposes and who’s to say, that counting wasn’t one of them.

SOMEWHERE in the 50's or 60's we were taught to control our tempers by counting to ten. I suppose that is sound advise but my temper never gave me time to stop and think; “oh I must count to ten here!” I have heard parents say to their child who was having a temper tantrum, “lets count to ten now!” Can’t you just hear the infliction of their voice softly rising, to help the child to calm down. Perhaps that is when Mom needs to count to ten!

COUNTING is something we learn as a child when our brains are young, fresh, pliable and have plenty of room for remembering. Counting is one of those academic periods of training that remains as a part of our brain functions throughout our lives. Even God loves numbers and counting!

WE ARE fascinated with the numbers God uses. Many times 3 is used to signify days. Jonah in the Whale; Jesus in the tomb. Then there is 7 and 14 that indicate perfection. The scriptures also use numbers in stories to give us a picture of amazement. 10 Lepers and how Jesus healed all ten. They went away rejoicing, but one came back and fell to his knees, praising Jesus with thanksgiving. What happened to the 9? Remember the story of one little sheep that was separated from the flock? Even though the shepherd still had 99, he went looking for one that was lost.

THE POET SAYS; “ Let me count the ways;” when it comes to love. We say; “How many times have I told you not to do that?” We use a clock so we know when we are to get up, be somewhere, go to bed. Let me count the ways to keep me on schedule. Numbers and more numbers float around our heads. However, the question is do you know how to count the cost?

LEARNING general math was hard enough, but some have taken it to greater levels of understanding so they can go beyond the perplexities of basic arithmetic. God has laid it all out there and man is determined to find it. But still, do we know how to count the cost?

LOOKING AT God, our creator, David says; “How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand; when I awake, I am still with you.” David is amazed at God the Creator and God as His mentor. He is lost in just how amazing God is.

HOW DO YOU perceive God? Is He your creator, your mentor? Does He amaze you with His infinite glory? “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of the Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing the Christ, Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain the Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in the Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death. That if possible, I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11

PAUL KNEW what it meant to count the cost. He knew that he had to put his all on the line so that he could achieve the righteousness of God, because without God he could do nothing, but with God all things were possible. Sins separate us from God, but through Jesus who has reconciled us to Himself, has also given us a ministry of reconciliation. Before the law, sin didn’t count, but now through Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven and God remembers our sins no more! When we take up our cross and follow Jesus, we soon learn to count the cost. Living in the world but not being a part of the world is the cross we bear, but we do not bear it alone! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/16/12