THE DISCIPLINE
OF A DISCIPLE

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

When many people hear the word “disciple” they think of the twelve men who followed Jesus in the first century. But let me ask you this question: Do you think of yourself as a Disciple? A disciple is a learner of follower. Therefore we too identify ourselves as disciples of Jesus.

In this verse Jesus touches on the cost involved in following after Him. “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple”. This is known as one of the original “hard sayings” of Jesus. What does it mean? The cross is a symbol of sacrifice. Total sacrifice. There is nothing half way about crucifixion. So Jesus is telling us that in order to truly follow in His footsteps and experience His life, it is going to require sacrifice. Not to earn an encounter with Jesus but to experience it. In other words, you can’t walk in the footsteps of Jesus and go where He goes and experience what He experiences without being like Him. That is what Christianity is all about; being like Jesus. That is going to take commitment, effort, and sacrifice. Although we don’t have to work for our salvation, we do have to work out our salvation.

Another word for sacrifice is discipline. It is the daily, detailed, deliberate choices and actions that put our feet where our faith is. There is a reason why the words “disciple” and “discipline” are so close. It takes discipline to be a disciple.

We are all living for something. Paul said, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Christ Jesus is not only worth living and sacrificing for; He is the only thing worth it. May you pick up your cross daily and follow Jesus.

Today’s prayer: “Lord help me to be more like You by walking Your path. Grant me the discipline I need daily to pick up my cross and follow You so I can experience You and glorify You.”

Moving on Grace,
Pastor Gary