The cost of discipleship!
In my quiet time this morning the Holy Spirit asked me about this subject. I had an impression on what it means to be a disciple. Jesus clearly commands us to go and make disciples of all nations and then teach them to uphold all these things. I just think that as the years went by we have lost a lot of “these things” and added a few of “these things” we feel comfortable with. What are some of these things we need to teach them? What does it look like to make disciples?
Matt 28:18-19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
In the world many other religions require strict adherence to certain rules and regulations. The people following these religions don’t have an option of choosing when and whether they are going to obey it. They don’t have the option to change it either. Yet in Christianity we feel we have the right to interpret and change it the way we feel it is best.
The simple question I want to ask is this: “When did we get the option to redefine what discipleship looks like?”
Here is what Jesus says. In these few verses to see what it takes to get our focus back on the one who defined discipleship for us.
Mark 8:34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Jesus expects us to deny ourselves. This is giving up what we want and pursuing what He wants and desires. The word “denies” means to disown. We claim no connection to anything else but him. We deny ourselves, our desires, our opinions and everything that we have trusted that is not of God.
Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
How about asking us to hate our family. That must be too radical for anyone. Can this really be true? Then on top of that we are asked to pick up our cross. Anyone that had to do that knew that death was staring them in the eye. There was no way out or escape from your fate. Are we committed to that kind of discipleship?
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
How about adding a few things to what He already said. How about everything you have apart from who you are? Forsaking possessions, money, cars, houses or anything else. Can we be that kind of disciple or was Jesus just using pictures to demonstrate something. He didn’t mean it in that way; he meant the things you choose to give up. You are wrong!
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
How can I love if I have nothing to give? I gave everything up to be a disciple and then he asks me to love. The answer is simple. We learn to love God’s way. He gave up everything and loved us in spite of the fact it cost Him so much. We learn to love people because we do not need anything from them. We learn to love people because we understand what discipleship cost. We understand what it is to give everything and we can love with everything in us.
Do you still think this is too radical? Other religions demand total commitment and loyalty. Why can’t we be better and more loyal to God? There are millions of Christians that have given it all and will give it again and again. They never questioned God’s intentions and his call on their lives. They blindly follow the lamb wherever He goes.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Does this look like disciples? Are these the ones that understand what it means to put your hand to the plow and not look back? This is a hard blog to write. Jesus demands total commitment. He makes it simple and clear. Salvation is free and a free gift from God but to follow him will cost you everything. Are we even ready to make that commitment? Does it mean that God wants us to be hermits and live with nothing? Absolutely not! As a matter of fact He loves to entrust things to those that cannot be bought by anything else but Him. Look at how He blessed Abraham. Abraham was a rich man but in essence he didn’t own a thing. All that mattered to him was God.
