Bible study week: The Cost Of True Discipleship: Following Jesus

Salutations

Greetings to you all. I pray that this article will be a blessing to you and will give you something to think about during the course I this week.

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to follow Jesus? I'd like to take this moment to greet each and every person blessed to read this article. I pray that through this article, God will grant you an understanding of who Christ is and share a message of truth on what it means to follow Jesus.

Trusting in God's Plan

To begin, let's recap last week's topic, which was about trusting in God's plan. It's essential to remember that God has a plan for all of humanity, and His promises in His Will are certain. Unlike humans, God is known for finishing the good work He has begun in all of us. This was evident in the story of Joshua and Caleb who were the highlight of last week's story.

Following Jesus: More Than Just Sundays

Now, let's dive into the heart of our discussion. At one point in my life, I once believed that following Jesus meant simply attending a church service on Sundays while continuing with my own way of life the rest of the week. However, I was given an analogy: Imagine having a friend whom you only take out of the closet once a week. You have an opportunity to establish true friendship with this friend but you choose only to draw nearer to them only on special occasions Would you say that love is demonstrated here? Certainly not. The Bible, in Galatians 3:27 (NIV), tells us, "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

The Cost of Discipleship

In the book of Matthew, chapter 4, we see Jesus calling His first disciples, who were described in Acts 4:13 as "common" and "uneducated." Yet, they had the privilege to travel and learn from Jesus who was also God in human form. However, the disciples' actions demonstrated how difficult it is for us as humans to fully understand the Kingdom of Heaven, even when it is right in front of us. Like Peter, who believed he had the strength to defend Jesus, despite Jesus prophesying His death and resurrection in Jerusalem. Often, we put forth claims that contradict what has already been written in the Scriptures according to God's Will, choosing our own path. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:35 (ESV), "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

The True Disciple

In Luke 14:27 (NIV), it is clear: "And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Unless we forsake all, including our old selves, and take up our cross to follow Jesus, we forfeit the privilege of being His disciple. Many will recall the warning in Matthew 7:21-23 in the Bible: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the Will of my Father who is in heaven." It is clear that just professing belief is insufficient. In John 14:6 (New Testament), Jesus emphasizes, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." There is no other path to the Lord except through Christ.

Conclusion

Therefore, let us be mindful of our choices. Being a disciple is not an easy road, especially in times of persecution. We may be tested and put to the test, just as the disciples were. In those moments, some of us may consider denying Christ, but remember Peter, who initially claimed he would never deny Him but did so three times. As I prepare myself for such testing times, I pray that my faith will remain steadfast. In the book of Acts, we witness an active church where the Apostles demonstrated the Kingdom of Heaven. God had promised in His Word that in the last days, He would pour out His Spirit upon all people (Acts 2:17). Now is not the time to be swayed by false doctrines but to hold onto what Jesus taught. In the early chapters of Acts, we see the disciples proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven to both Jews and Gentiles. Some may argue that this period is in the past, but if we believe that God remains the same throughout history, what should be different today? The time is drawing near, much like in Matthew 24:37-39, "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." People were caught unprepared in the days of Noah, and the same will happen when the Son of Man returns. So, let us awaken and follow Jesus.Thank you for reading this article to the end. I pray it serves as a reminder for the age to come. Best wishes for the rest of the week, and may God bless you.