Being A Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26 These are words spoken to large crowds by Jesus. At first glance, this may sound rather harsh, especially since we are to "love" each other and not "hate." But you need to understand the point Jesus is making. It isn't that we actually hate our families or friends, rather, it should be the fact that we love our Lord Jesus so much, that in comparison with this love we have for our Lord, it is as though we hate everyone else. No one or nothing should compete or even come close to the love we have for our Savior and King. Jesus doesn't just want to be first in your life, He wants to be your one and only. While husbands, wives, children, parents and friends are a tremendous blessing and precious to each one of us, they are not our source of life and they will never satisfy like Jesus.
So what does a disciple of Jesus look like? Jesus is our example and He tells each one of us to follow Him. As we follow Him, our desires change, our thinking process changes and our wills change. When Jesus comes and takes residence in you, He begins to transform you, making you more and more like Him. No, this does not happen overnight, but you should be able to see growth that started from that moment Christ took hold of you. This process will continue in each one of us that belong to Jesus until the day of His return. This is a promise to us in Philippians 1:3-6, " I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." When Jesus saved you, He had no intention of letting you go. It is God who holds us and keeps us until the day of His return.
What does a disciple look like in everyday life? It is being the hands and feet of Jesus. It is listening and obeying His voice whether giving money to someone in need, sharing the gospel with a lost person or giving of your time to help someone. God wants our obedience. It's not about just being busy for Him, it is being sensitive to His Spirit, and doing what He asks whether it make sense to us at the time or not. Whatever God asks you to do, remember that it will always line up with His word, be for your good and the good of others and bring Him glory. He will give you such a peace and make it clear to you. All you and I need to do is be ready and willing to do whatever He asks. "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I say?"(Luke 6:46) Anyone can give lip service to God or say they are a Christian, but is their life matching up with what they say they believe? That is the question. We are known by the fruit of our lives. "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by his own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes form briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:43-45 The question for you today is, if people were looking at your life, would they know that you belong to the Lord Jesus? Would they see something different in you as opposed to the rest of the world?
You and me were created for God's glory. "In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:11-12) In all we say and do, we should glorify our Father. That is the least we can do for all He has done for us.
Being a disciple of Jesus, means that we endure to the end. "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."(2 John 1:9) We don't fall away at the first sign of trouble or persecution, rather, we hold fast our confidence that is in Christ Jesus.
Jesus is coming soon (Revelation 22:20). Continue in Him my friend and hold fast to Him. One day we will see our Lord Jesus face to face. What a beautiful, glorious day that will be.
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4)
So what does a disciple of Jesus look like? Jesus is our example and He tells each one of us to follow Him. As we follow Him, our desires change, our thinking process changes and our wills change. When Jesus comes and takes residence in you, He begins to transform you, making you more and more like Him. No, this does not happen overnight, but you should be able to see growth that started from that moment Christ took hold of you. This process will continue in each one of us that belong to Jesus until the day of His return. This is a promise to us in Philippians 1:3-6, " I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." When Jesus saved you, He had no intention of letting you go. It is God who holds us and keeps us until the day of His return.
What does a disciple look like in everyday life? It is being the hands and feet of Jesus. It is listening and obeying His voice whether giving money to someone in need, sharing the gospel with a lost person or giving of your time to help someone. God wants our obedience. It's not about just being busy for Him, it is being sensitive to His Spirit, and doing what He asks whether it make sense to us at the time or not. Whatever God asks you to do, remember that it will always line up with His word, be for your good and the good of others and bring Him glory. He will give you such a peace and make it clear to you. All you and I need to do is be ready and willing to do whatever He asks. "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I say?"(Luke 6:46) Anyone can give lip service to God or say they are a Christian, but is their life matching up with what they say they believe? That is the question. We are known by the fruit of our lives. "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by his own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes form briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:43-45 The question for you today is, if people were looking at your life, would they know that you belong to the Lord Jesus? Would they see something different in you as opposed to the rest of the world?
You and me were created for God's glory. "In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:11-12) In all we say and do, we should glorify our Father. That is the least we can do for all He has done for us.
Being a disciple of Jesus, means that we endure to the end. "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."(2 John 1:9) We don't fall away at the first sign of trouble or persecution, rather, we hold fast our confidence that is in Christ Jesus.
Jesus is coming soon (Revelation 22:20). Continue in Him my friend and hold fast to Him. One day we will see our Lord Jesus face to face. What a beautiful, glorious day that will be.
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4)
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