What it Means to Follow Jesus in Discipleship
Jesus Christ, the Savior & Messiah cautioned us—
“He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
(The Gospel According to Matthew 10: 39 NASB)
Discipleship is hard—when a person has to stand against the world.
Discipleship is difficult—when a person has to stand in opposition to his family.
Discipleship is an overwhelming struggle—when a person has to stand up and be counted.
Discipleship—Jesus expects no less!
During this past week, I have encountered these different types of people.
- A person struggling to blend two opposing beliefs.
- A person struggling to accept “There is a God.”
- A person struggling to raise her children, caught between two religions.
- A person struggling to walk by faith in his everyday life.
Truly, during this week, I have come face-to-face with these beliefs that are in opposition to CHRISTIANITY—
- To believe in Jesus Christ, the Messiah who has already come to earth, then a person must walk away from the religion Judaism.
- To believe that Jesus was crucified on the cross and resurrected from the dead, then a person must walk away from the religion Islam.
- To believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world, sent by God to Redeem mankind, then a person must walk away from the religion Hinduism.
- To believe in THE TRUTH that God sent His only Son to die, that Jehovah sent Jesus to lay down His life on the cross of Calvary & to believe Jesus was buried and remained in the grave, is to believe in Jesus Christ the Messiah. Jesus was really dead & God really did raised Jesus, the Son of God to new life. To believe in THE TRUTH, then a person must walk away from his life wandering in darkness, from his unbelief.
- To believe in Jesus Christ, to accept Jesus as your Savior, and to confess your sins, then a person must commit to walk in discipleship to HIM, to JESUS!
In the Quran, as followed in the religion of Islam, Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin & lived to perform miracles. Jesus was rejected, but that’s it. Jesus was not crucified, believers of Islam say, nor was Jesus resurrected, and clearly, He does not sit at the right hand of Almighty God.
Yet, the Word of God given to us by Jehovah God speaks the truth!
“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 10: 32 NASB)
I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.”
In the world of unbelief, the people believe in the power of prayer. However this is a life of unbelief where a person just exists, does good in the world, dies, and IF THERE IS A GOD, then hopes for the best, having a personal relationship with Jesus is not a reality for these individuals.
Nevertheless, the Bible given to us by Father God speaks the truth!
“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
(The Gospel According to Matthew 10: 33 NASB)
In the philosophy of Hinduism, a person is ‘born’ into a cycle of life, death, reincarnation, karma, completely cycling around and around, with no end. People who believe this way follow a religious order of life, believing they are part of the supreme soul. In this world, someone would say, I will just raise my children to be Hindu from birth, and then they can decide what & if they want to believe. Yes, I will let my children choose, not instructing them or directing them to the Prince of Peace or in the acceptance of Almighty God, the ruler of the universe.
However, God’s Word given to us by the Creator, by Almighty God speaks the whole truth!
“Do not think I came to bring peace on earth;
(The Gospel According to Matthew 10: 34 NASB)
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
In the world where we live—
- How can there be so many different mindsets, so many thoughts, so much confusion?
- Why do so many think this earth will be a peaceful place to live, where people can believe what they please?
- However can a mom or dad just allow their children to choose to believe in God or to not believe?
In Judaism, in the belief of the Jewish nation, in the culture where Jesus lived and walked, they are waiting for the Messiah to come, choosing to not accept Jesus as the Promised Messiah. They do not recognize Jesus who has already come to bring salvation to the world.
Clearly, in this thinking, they will not be prepared for Jesus’ second coming.
Fortunately, the Holy, Infallible Word of God, the Bible breathed out to man by God Himself, speaks the ONLY TRUTH!
Jesus—the Savior & Messiah reminds us—
“For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;
(The Gospel According to Matthew 10: 35-39 NASB)
and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;
and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
To Follow Jesus in Discipleship Means We Might Be Ostracized.
Nevertheless, Jesus Himself tells us we are to
- BE Set Apart,
- BE as a Light Set Upon the Hill,
- BE Sharing the Gospel message with those we encounter, &
- BE Pointing them toward the TRUE MESSIAH—JESUS CHRIST!
The Gospel message of Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Redeemer, the CHRIST—is TRUTH!
Discipleship is hard—when a person has to stand against the world.
Discipleship is difficult—when a person has to stand in opposition to his family.
Discipleship is an overwhelming struggle—when a person has to stand up and be counted.
Discipleship—Jesus expects no less!
Jesus Christ, the Savior & Messiah continually cautions us—
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, [Satan, the Deceiver, the father of lies]
how much more will they malign the members of his household!
Therefore do not fear them,
- for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light;
- and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.
Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul;
- but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a cent?
- And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
- But the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
So do not fear;
- you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men,
I will also confess him before My Father who is heaven.
But whoever denies Me before men,
I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
(The Gospel According to Matthew 10: 24-33 NASB)