WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Matthew 28:18-20  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

As disciples, we don’t get to pick and choose what passages we like in the Bible or which scriptures we obey and don’t obey. We can’t come to a particular passage and reject it simply because it’s hard. Instead, true disciples of Jesus are devoted to God’s Word, submit to it, and recognize its authority. Jesus is the Master Disciple, and when we spend time in His word, in prayer, in worship, His nature permeates us, causing us to change into the disciple He has called us to be without us even realizing it. Being a disciple is not hard when we disciple Jesus’ way. And until we make a commitment to completely deny ourselves, we have not yet become a disciple of Christ. Yes, we all fall short, but God’s true disciples don’t stay down, they get back up and press on. 

A disciple of Christ is a follower who gives up everything, denies himself and adheres completely to the teaching and Word of God. As we live with the death of Christ on our behalf in view, it changes everything: our desires, outlook, desires, relationships, and goals. We begin to see our life itself as merely a vapor. We are not our own anymore. We belong to Christ from the moment that we are brought to life by the Holy Spirit’s regenerating power. And we lay down our lives, pick up our cross daily and follow Christ (Luke 9:23). Jesus becomes Lord over our life, and we begin to live for Christ. If we want to become disciples of Christ, we must follow the master disciple, Jesus!

 

• Are you spending quality time in God’s Word?  Yes or No 

• ARe you praying on a daily basis? Yes or No

• Do you feel your time in God’s work is producing fruit? Yes or No

We must understand that when we follow Christ, we not only follow after Christ but we take the posture of a servant just like Him. Mark 10:44 says, “Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all'' Jesus teaches us that it’s the strong that serve the weak, and for some this is hard. Because they think just because they know they have been called by God for whatever purpose, they should automatically be put to the highest position. But that is far from the truth. Mark 10:45 ESV says… “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” And the only way we can serve like Christ, if we abide in Christ. Jesus said in John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing.” There is nothing we can do without Christ, not even serve. If we want to be a disciple of Christ, we must learn from the master and do discipling Jesus way. 
When Jesus called His disciples, He didn’t ask them to read over the job description to see if it fit their lives. He didn’t ask them to check to see if the hours were convenient for them. No, He just simply said, “Follow Me.”

 

When we decide to follow Christ, we can be for sure that He will take care of us. He will provide for our every need. He will protect us from the evil that lurks all around us. He will give us peace in our storms. He will give us direction in which way we should go. He will give us joy, and not the joy that the world gives, but His everlasting joy. He will give us the strength we need to overcome any obstacle that tries to block our way of following Him. He will help us overcome temptation that tries to bring us down.  All this He will do and more, when we disciple Jesus’ way.

JOURNALING QUESTIONS:

 

• In light of this topic what has become important to you? 

• What has God made clear to you? 

• What decision(s) are you willing to make to become more like Christ? 

• Are you willing to deny yourself to follow Christ? 

True discipleship will involve suffering and self-denial. Choosing to do the will of God becomes more important than being rejected or being popular.  Being a true disciple involves us to die to self, our plans, our desires, our agendas, our priorities and exchange them for God’s plans and will for our lives. And we gotta remember…we cannot put restrictions on God, we are not calling the shots, nor are we in charge. 

Many people today want the Lord, but they want Him on their terms or under their conditions. However, Jesus does not compromise or negotiate. He has already stated His requirements clearly. If you want to follow Me, you have to give up your life. Point. Blank. Period!