DISCIPLESHIP
MEMORISE
And
he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23
READ
Mark 8:34-37
34 And 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.
35 For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life
for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what
shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what
shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
MESSAGE
At the beginning of the earthly ministry of our
Lord Jesus Christ, discipleship was a term used to describe the process of
building followers who were committed to the cause, teaching and beliefs of our
Lord Jesus Christ. It later became a common term used to describe the followers
of Jesus. Discipleship is the crux of the Lord’s final address on earth. In
this address known as the Great Commission, He charged us to make disciples of
all nations (Matthew 28:19). Discipleship is not something that happens
immediately after salvation, neither is it an optional experience for any
Christian. Discipleship, which essentially means following Jesus, is the
essence of Christianity.
Discipleship as a Christian experience is a way of
life that requires paying a cost (self-denial), and commitment to the cause
(taking up one’s cross).These two attributes required of a disciple are clearly
stated in many passages of the Bible, specifically Luke 9:23, says:
“And
he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
This if further enunciated in Matthew 10:38:
“And
he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
Luke 14:27 stretched the idea even further by saying:
”And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
The Bible always speaks of following Jesus in
relation to self-denial and the cross. Discipleship is therefore the way of
sacrifice.
Paying the cost of discipleship through self-denial
and commitment to the cause of Jesus by taking up one’s cross daily are two
important requirements of discipleship. By denial of self, Jesus does not mean
to deny one's self of something. He means to renounce self; to cease to make
self the object of one’s life and actions. This involves a fundamental
reorientation of the principle of life. It is to place the divine will before
self-will. God, not self, must be at the centre of life. This is something that
is especially difficult for the average human being. I pray that as you read
this, the Lord will visit you and turn your focus from self and earthly things
to God and heavenly things in the Name of Jesus.
PRAYER
POINT
Father, please help me to focus on you alone. Help me to pay the price
of discipleship and to be committed to the cause of Jesus all the days of my
life.
BIBLE
IN ONE YEAR
Luke 23:6-24:53
Job 29:7-20
Amen. Thank you Jesus.
ReplyDeleteAmen and God bless you
ReplyDelete