By Phillip Hines

I heard this story years ago when times were harder and money a little scarcer.  

A young man decided to get his wife some perfume. He walked into a nice store and told the lady he wanted some real good cheap perfume.  

Doesn’t that sound just like a man?  

She looked at him and said, “There is no such thing, sir.” 

Well, the young husband ended up buying her a nice iron!

Isn’t this what a lot of people are looking for today in religion? Some real good cheap religion. Folks, there is no such thing!  

Jesus said in Mark 8:34, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” 

Even back in Jesus’ time, there were those who wanted something that would make them feel good about themselves – smell good without being good. They wanted something that could be splashed on and cover the problem without ever solving the problem.

In Luke’s account of the above passage from Mark 8:34, we find Luke adds one important word. Luke 9:23: “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” 

The word added is “daily.”  

Today, many want to attend a few church services when it is convenient; say a few prayers when they are in trouble; and sing a few songs when they feel good. 

Friends, cheap religion is no religion at all!