"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;..."
As a disciple, your primary goal is to learn; Learn of the Master which is Jesus. We are to emulate him and imitate him in such a way that people can see the "Christ" in us -sound familiar? Recall what God desires concerning our relationship to His son. Consider Romans 8:29 which reads:
"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,..."
In order to be conformed into the likeness of God's son we must be: taught, coached, learned, exposed, and chastised in order to subscribe to the teachings and ways of Jesus. As a result, we then become His disciples and He our Master. Just so you are aware, you are in no worse a position to become a disciple as the original twelve disciples Jesus chose. He chose simple, yet hard working men who's hearts He could mould into a heart after His. It was their willingness to follow Him that made them great disciples -then Apostles.
However, this discipleship or path that we've chosen does cost something. Consider Luke 14:26-33:
v26. 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.
v27. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
v28. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
v29. Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
v30. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
v31. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
v32. Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassador, and desireth conditions of peace.
v33. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Verse 26 uses strong, colorful language to suggest that nothing can be put above our service to Jesus as His disciples. Verse 27 indicates that we too must be willing to suffer to some extent or another as He suffered during His walk here on earth. Our Lord and Savior walked where we walk and endured trials, temptations, lack, sorrow, and happiness just as we do. Note: An effective leader will not ask his followers to do anything the he hasn't or truthfully would not do himself.
Verse 28 provides an example of counting the cost. What does it cost to do this or that? Verses 29 and 30 tell us that we plan to fail if we do not assess the cost or requirements before we decide to do something or follow someone. The final verse 33, reiterates that we must be willing to give up all, to gain all.
Yes, this a tough issue. Far from prayer cloths, prayer rugs, and late night "seed planting sermons", we learn that our walk with Christ requires more from us than what many of us have been taught. It is time that we understand just what following Christ is all about. It's not about church, or being in the choir, or trusting God for money and promotion but at its core it is about self-denial and righteousness. If you think about it, this is the only way we can do many things that God has asked us to do such as:
- Love our enemies
- Pray for ones who mistreat you
- Abstain from uncleanliness (sin)
- Seek God first in all that we do
- Be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ
Can you see the pattern evolving? It all requires self-denial (i.e. the putting down of pride, revenge, and will) and living a holy life. The Lord says to "...be holy, as he is holy".
This is unpopular and you are brave if you read this long enough to get to this sentence. This disturbs our flesh and makes us feel a bit burdened or even sad as we realize that there is indeed a cost of following Christ -a cost that exceeds what many of us have been taught.
When you joined church, if you can remember, what happened? Did you really learn or fully understand what it meant to follow Christ? Did you know that you decided to become a disciple versus a church memeber? Did you know that you became a partaker in the sufferings and also glory of the Lord?
Remember, God doesn't place His primary focus on the material elements in this world as He has said throughout the bible that this world is temporal and will pass away. He has promised to provide all of our needs and to give us the desire of our hearts but remember James 4:3 which reads:
"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
What's my point, am I trying to discourage you? No. Does God want you to suffer lack? No, unless maybe He's using it as a tool to chastise you or increase you. But you and I need to read our whole bibles to understand what's really going on. I can, as many do, give you pieces of scriptures and string them together in such a way that you will be lead to believe that God's gonna make you a billionaire. Is not God's value to us worth more than money or material gain?
Your value to God is being a disciple of His Son Jesus. By doing this you will be made righteous in His image and experience God's blessings and provision while here on earth and spend an eternity in His presence upon His return. Your abundant life starts the day you give up your current life and say "not my will, but thy will be done". Count the cost and pray that God gives you the strength to run this race. I leave you with this:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
I love you and so does God. Stay with me...we're being pruned for growth. Keep reading.
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