Is the Gift really free

Well we are off to the Laurence Welk Resort tomorrow after work. John and I were kind of succered into signing up for this time share presentation thing. Silly I know, ,but what can I say we all have to do it once right? We are getting a discounted room at the lovely resort on Friday Night and plus they offered us free stuff. I love free stuff. Everyone loves free stuff I bet there is not a person in the world that does not love getting free stuff. But yet people all the over the world deny the free gift of Jesus Christ everyday. But then I guess we must ask is the gift really free? When we offer this gift of Christ to the lost do we tell them that in return for their salvation they are called to be obediant to their Creator God. Do we tell them that Christ calls them to deny themselves. I think now adays these commands tend to get left out. The mentality is more come to Jesus he will fix your problems.....come to Jesus you will go to heaven. Now these our truths that happen when we do come to Jesus but the most important part has been left out. Our surrender to Him wholly and completed. As it is the good news that Christ came may we offer it as a gift to the lost but lets not forget to leave out the part that we need to count the cost. I think of Luke 14 when Jesus was talking to the crowds and he said

26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Are we willing to give up our lives to hate anything that draws us away from Jesus, and to count the cost and reallize what it really means to pick up our cross, and follow Jesus. The gift of salvation is free for those who surrender their life to Christ and obey his commands. What a wonderful gift.