What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
That’s what we’ve been studying for the last few times together. You could say, we’re “learning” to be His disciple, or we’re “discipling” each other to be His disciple.
This week, we’re going to look at another description of a what a disciple of Jesus Christ is: it has to do with the cost of discipleship.
Some say, “hey man, our Salvation is a free gift. . .” and they would be totally accurate. But we’re not talking about Salvation. We’re talking about the bi-product of salvation.
So the question is, “What will you do with your life, now that Jesus Christ has ‘Salvaged’ it from the dung heap, and then basically handed it back to you to see what you will do with it?”
When it comes to discipleship, when we consider how much Jesus Christ has given up for us (e.g. the magnitude that it cost Him to become a man, and to die, and to be humiliated and shamed by fellow man and His own Father), it should be getting clearer to us that we ought to want to give everything back to Him. With respect to discipleship, we should be "learning" these things as we walk with Him, I.e., being “discipled”.
Unfortunately, in this world, with so many options and distractions, it’s very easy to be persuaded to give Him what we no longer want—giving God our leftovers! That should not be our attitude.
Read Luke 9:57-62
Some practical questions and thoughts:
- Is Jesus Christ Lord of my life? Does He come first in all things, over all thoughts, over all comforts and wants?
If we come first in any way, then for all practical purposes He is not Lord in our lives.
- Example of Peter, who in a dream, when the Lord showed him all sorts of unclean animals that he was to kill and eat, Peter said, “Not so Lord.” So, is there anything in my life that the Lord has asked me to do, to which I’ve replied, “Not so Lord?” Or have I ever said “NO” to the Lord?
If I say “no” to God, it is an indication that He is not Lord. . . Either He is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all! There is no middle ground. No servant gets to dictate the terms by which he’ll serve. The Master make the terms. The servant obeys.
- Does following Jesus cause conflict in my life, or in the lives of my family and friends? Do I understand the purpose of that conflict?
Part of the cost of discipleship is conflict with and in the world. We cannot expect the world to love us because we are not greater than our master. If they persecuted Him (which they did), they will most certainly persecute us, just as Jesus told his disciples in John 15:20. Paul states the same thing in 2 Timothy 3:12, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” This is not a suggestion, it’s a promise. Not the kind that makes anyone rejoice, but one that has a cost to it, as well as humongous blessings!!
True discipleship will cause friction in our relationships with any unbeliever, friends and family alike. Count on it. Even if it isn’t evident, we need to remember that there is a battle being fought for their soul. The question we should ask ourselves is, how much am I willing to pay to have that person be “salvaged” by the Lord Jesus Christ?
Not that we go looking for trouble or agitating, but am I being true to the convictions of obedience to my Lord over maintaining a façade of “peace maker” with an unbeliever in my life, and at the cost of their soul, just to avoid conflict?
- What am I committed to?
In the Luke passage, a man approaches Jesus and makes a bold (impulsive claim) that he would follow the Lord wherever he went. It seems like Jesus dashed his hopes a bit, but He was really only pointing out to the man what was in his own heart. His statement, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head,” is meant to make us realize and understand the same points about where we are heading if we walk in His steps. We will never carry His cross because that work has been finished. But there is a cross for us to bear, and it is going to cost us our pleasures and the well being of these earthly bodies in one way or another. So, am I truly committed to following my Lord through the muck and persecution and spitting and hair pulling of the world?
Am I committed to that “way”?
Have I learned to detachment myself from the things of this world so that nothing distracts or dissuades me or slows me down from following Him?
- Do I find myself trying to make the terms by which I will follow the Lord Jesus Christ?
I already mentioned that no servant gets to dictate the terms by which he’ll serve.
“But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:62)
“Looking back”-This is the problem. How much do I really give the Lord? Ten percent, 20%, 50%? Jesus is pretty clear here: "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:33)
I pray this doesn’t discourage anyone. We are learners of Him and His grace. This is no time to throw in the towel. If you feel like I do at times, like a poor disciple, remember that He is NOT a poor teacher. He is the best. Lets keep our eyes fixed on Him and remember what we know-that He did not die for us in vain! And He rose from the dead!
And now, we are men of God, given the power of His resurrection, called to serve Him, under the power and might of His Holy Spirit, not our own power. Are you guys with me? Are you still ready to learn to learn? I have a long way to go, but I am NOT willing to give up this amazing, exciting, exhilarating, calling to be His disciple!
That’s what we’ve been studying for the last few times together. You could say, we’re “learning” to be His disciple, or we’re “discipling” each other to be His disciple.
This week, we’re going to look at another description of a what a disciple of Jesus Christ is: it has to do with the cost of discipleship.
Some say, “hey man, our Salvation is a free gift. . .” and they would be totally accurate. But we’re not talking about Salvation. We’re talking about the bi-product of salvation.
So the question is, “What will you do with your life, now that Jesus Christ has ‘Salvaged’ it from the dung heap, and then basically handed it back to you to see what you will do with it?”
When it comes to discipleship, when we consider how much Jesus Christ has given up for us (e.g. the magnitude that it cost Him to become a man, and to die, and to be humiliated and shamed by fellow man and His own Father), it should be getting clearer to us that we ought to want to give everything back to Him. With respect to discipleship, we should be "learning" these things as we walk with Him, I.e., being “discipled”.
Unfortunately, in this world, with so many options and distractions, it’s very easy to be persuaded to give Him what we no longer want—giving God our leftovers! That should not be our attitude.
Read Luke 9:57-62
Some practical questions and thoughts:
- Is Jesus Christ Lord of my life? Does He come first in all things, over all thoughts, over all comforts and wants?
If we come first in any way, then for all practical purposes He is not Lord in our lives.
- Example of Peter, who in a dream, when the Lord showed him all sorts of unclean animals that he was to kill and eat, Peter said, “Not so Lord.” So, is there anything in my life that the Lord has asked me to do, to which I’ve replied, “Not so Lord?” Or have I ever said “NO” to the Lord?
If I say “no” to God, it is an indication that He is not Lord. . . Either He is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all! There is no middle ground. No servant gets to dictate the terms by which he’ll serve. The Master make the terms. The servant obeys.
- Does following Jesus cause conflict in my life, or in the lives of my family and friends? Do I understand the purpose of that conflict?
Part of the cost of discipleship is conflict with and in the world. We cannot expect the world to love us because we are not greater than our master. If they persecuted Him (which they did), they will most certainly persecute us, just as Jesus told his disciples in John 15:20. Paul states the same thing in 2 Timothy 3:12, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” This is not a suggestion, it’s a promise. Not the kind that makes anyone rejoice, but one that has a cost to it, as well as humongous blessings!!
True discipleship will cause friction in our relationships with any unbeliever, friends and family alike. Count on it. Even if it isn’t evident, we need to remember that there is a battle being fought for their soul. The question we should ask ourselves is, how much am I willing to pay to have that person be “salvaged” by the Lord Jesus Christ?
Not that we go looking for trouble or agitating, but am I being true to the convictions of obedience to my Lord over maintaining a façade of “peace maker” with an unbeliever in my life, and at the cost of their soul, just to avoid conflict?
- What am I committed to?
In the Luke passage, a man approaches Jesus and makes a bold (impulsive claim) that he would follow the Lord wherever he went. It seems like Jesus dashed his hopes a bit, but He was really only pointing out to the man what was in his own heart. His statement, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head,” is meant to make us realize and understand the same points about where we are heading if we walk in His steps. We will never carry His cross because that work has been finished. But there is a cross for us to bear, and it is going to cost us our pleasures and the well being of these earthly bodies in one way or another. So, am I truly committed to following my Lord through the muck and persecution and spitting and hair pulling of the world?
Am I committed to that “way”?
Have I learned to detachment myself from the things of this world so that nothing distracts or dissuades me or slows me down from following Him?
- Do I find myself trying to make the terms by which I will follow the Lord Jesus Christ?
I already mentioned that no servant gets to dictate the terms by which he’ll serve.
“But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:62)
“Looking back”-This is the problem. How much do I really give the Lord? Ten percent, 20%, 50%? Jesus is pretty clear here: "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:33)
I pray this doesn’t discourage anyone. We are learners of Him and His grace. This is no time to throw in the towel. If you feel like I do at times, like a poor disciple, remember that He is NOT a poor teacher. He is the best. Lets keep our eyes fixed on Him and remember what we know-that He did not die for us in vain! And He rose from the dead!
And now, we are men of God, given the power of His resurrection, called to serve Him, under the power and might of His Holy Spirit, not our own power. Are you guys with me? Are you still ready to learn to learn? I have a long way to go, but I am NOT willing to give up this amazing, exciting, exhilarating, calling to be His disciple!