In the airline industry, we constantly weigh cost against value. Long duty days, missed holidays, irregular schedules, and constant changes all press the question: Is it worth it? That same question echoes even louder when it comes to following Jesus.
Jesus never promised an easy road. He was clear: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Following Him requires sacrifice—sometimes comfort, sometimes reputation, sometimes opportunity. But every sacrifice pales in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Him.
Paul captures this truth in Romans 12:1: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” This verse is both rich and practical, and it speaks directly to our question, “Is Jesus worth it?”
“By the mercies of God” — Paul roots everything in God’s mercy. We don’t offer our lives to earn His favor, but because we’ve already received it in Christ. The cross proves once and for all that God’s mercy toward us is abundant. Jesus is worth it because of what He has already done.
“Present your bodies” — This means our whole selves. Not just Sunday mornings, not just when life is smooth, but every moment—at work, on a trip, in the crew room, at home. Presenting our bodies includes how we act under pressure, how we speak to coworkers, and how we live when no one else is watching. Jesus is worth our entire lives, not just a part of them.
“As a living sacrifice” — In the Old Testament, sacrifices were killed and placed on the altar. But here, Paul calls us to be living sacrifices. It means daily surrender. It’s choosing Christ in the middle of fatigue, frustration, or conflict. It’s saying “yes” to God again and again in the ordinary moments of life. Jesus is worth the daily surrender, even when it costs us.
“Holy and acceptable to God” — Through Christ, we are made holy, set apart for God. Our obedience, though imperfect, becomes pleasing to Him because it is rooted in faith. Jesus is worth it because He makes even our smallest acts of faith valuable in God’s sight.
“Which is your spiritual worship” — Worship isn’t limited to singing songs in church. True worship is a lifestyle—every decision, every sacrifice, every act of obedience declaring that Jesus is worthy.
Jesus Himself illustrated the kingdom of heaven with two short but powerful parables in Matthew 13:
The Treasure in the Field (v. 44): A man finds hidden treasure. In his joy, he sells all he has to buy the field. The lesson: the kingdom of God is so valuable that nothing else compares.
The Pearl of Great Price (vv. 45–46): A merchant discovers one pearl of extraordinary worth. He sells everything to obtain it. The message is clear: when you truly see the value of Christ, every sacrifice becomes joy, not loss.
These parables remind us that the Christian life is not about reluctantly giving up things for God. It is about joyfully letting go of lesser things because we’ve found something infinitely better—Jesus Himself.
For those of us in the airline world, this truth plays out in practical ways:
∙ Choosing integrity when pressured to cut corners.
∙ Extending patience when stress runs high in the operation.
∙ Offering grace to coworkers who may not always be easy to love.
∙ Serving others when fatigue tempts us to focus only on ourselves.
∙ Bearing witness to Christ in conversations with coworkers and passengers.
Each choice, each act of obedience, each moment of surrender is part of presenting our lives as living sacrifices. And in doing so, we proclaim to a watching world that Jesus is indeed worth it.
So, is Jesus worth it? Absolutely. He is the Treasure hidden in the field, the Pearl of great price, the Savior who gave everything so that we might live. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, the Door who opens the way to life, and the King of kings whose reign never ends. And because of that, we gladly give ourselves back to Him—our time, our work, our integrity, and our very lives.
Yes—Jesus is worth it. Always.
