Let’s begin Part 3 where Part 2 ended, shall we? I quote:
It’s beginning to look like there’s more to discipleship than just “following” Jesus.
Indeed there is. When you read the Gospels, how do you see yourself? Are you a disciple, a follower, or somewhere in between? Surely not a scribe or a Pharisee, and most certainly not a Saddusee. Are we servants, friends, children of God, or something else? Here’s a truth, and I’m not going to dwell on it here, but let’s acknowledge it, and tuck it away to be dealt with later: no matter how God sees you, no matter what God desires for you, you will never rise higher than your own self-image. If you can only see yourself as a follower of Jesus, hoping to someday be worthy to be called a disciple, that is where you will remain, and no higher.
There is a price to pay for discipleship. Jesus spoke of laying aside family and friends, property, etc., in order to accomplish God’s will, which comes with rewards, both in this life and the next, which cannot compare with the sacrifice. Do we understand the price? Can we pay it? Do we hunger and thirst after righteousness, or do we hope and wish for it?
Jesus was indeed a Rabbi. Recognized as such, He brought together twelve men whom He then proceeded to teach and train. Train for what? Here’s the Professor, here are His students; what is He teaching them? What are they learning? What are they becoming? Jesus gives us the answer: A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. (Matthew 10:24, 25a; NKJV)
Do you see the implication of that? It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher; if the disciple is not like the teacher, then it is not enough. Our goal, like that of the disciples in the Gospels, it to be, or to become, like the Master. Jesus, our Teacher, longs for trainees who will take His instructions seriously, who will hunger and thirst for His ways to be our ways, so that when graduation day comes, He can send us out, not as disciples, but as apostles, conformed at last to the image of God’s Son.
What price discipleship? What cross are we called upon to carry? If I may be so bold, I must just mention that crosses are not for carrying, they are for dying on. When we take up our cross and follow Him, He will lead us to our own personal Calvary. The degree to which we allow the cross to work in us determines our success or otherwise as disciples.
Again, what price discipleship? The word itself tells us: discipline. Getting saved does not make us perfect, it may not even make us better. We start with salvation, and then, step by step, we follow the Master, learning His lessons, watching and following His examples, doing what He does, with varying success, growing and maturing, becoming perfected (or developed) in His life. He will not do it for you, but He has given us the map to follow, and He has sent His own Spirit to guide and support us.
Discipline is a big subject, and I’m ending this series here. There will be more as we go along, you can count on that. Trust me, I am the last person on Earth to be writing such stuff; I am the least disciplined individual on the planet, I think. However, I know from experience that God often lays on my heart words to speak or write that I most need to hear. He’s funny that way.
Keep an eye on this site; I will be adding articles as often as I can. Most of them will be along spiritual lines, teaching or preaching, but I also have some lighter stuff to pass along. Be careful, you might find yourself being entertained!
Once again, Like, Share, Comment, and come back for more.
Cheers, and God Bless,
dlh
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