We serve a God who not only calls us by name, but calls us
to walk in His identity as a disciple of Christ as well. It's a role that we're
called to fulfill in God's Kingdom, but it's not an easy role to fill. Yet,
many of us mark it with the label that it is because we don't realize the true
cost of discipleship until we're faced with moments that we have to either
defend our faith or keep quiet about it.
Why is this?
Why can we look at
Jesus and see the cost that God paid for our sins through his crucifixion, and
not be willing to die for a faith of our own?
Discipleship isn't just something that we can freely choose to
partake in when we want. It's easy to show up at church on Sunday and agree
with the words that the preacher says and leave it at that "until next week," but that's not how we fulfill our roles
in the Kingdom. We come to church to be filled as disciples and affirmed that
we've taken on our one, true identity so that we can walk in confidence with a
fearless faith to proclaim the Gospel to a world that so desperately needs to hear it. We don't come to church to
feel good and proud of ourselves in the fact that we were able to wake up and
get there on time "this week." We come to church to grow as a community of believers that
share the same passion for the one and true living God, Who has a mission that
He desires to achieve through us.
We have to understand
this. And as the church, we must wake up, rise up, and walk.
Disciples follow
Jesus because he is the way. His life is the example for how we are to live
ours. We cling to him through faith because he is our reason to live. He gives
us life.
"And
calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it,'" (Mark 8:34-35, ESV).
Disciples help others
follow Jesus because they know his goodness and desire for the world to be
a witness to it as well. Having a relationship with Jesus is vital, but it
doesn't- and it can't- end with us. We are called to embody the qualities of
Christ into our everyday lives as we proclaim his goodness to the world. He
opens eyes through us.
"Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the
age," (Matthew
28:19-20).
Disciples replicate
Jesus because it is through him that we receive life and are able to give
it. We are called to be fishers of men
and that city on a hill through acts of love, humility, grace, service, and
obedience every day, for all of our days.
"For to this you have been
called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that
you might follow in his steps," (1 Peter 2:21, ESV).
Disciples must
realize that the cost of discipleship requires sacrifice. When heavy waves come crashing down, we
must swim with faith instead of drowning in fear. Trials will come, and when
they do we must draw near to the Lord and seek His face. We don't serve God
simply for profit. This life was never guaranteed to be easy all the time, but
folks, the destination will sure be worth it. Even in the suffering, God is
still sovereign and good. He will take care of you.
“Christians today like to play it safe. We want to put
ourselves in situations where we are safe 'even if there is no God.' But if we
truly desire to please God, we cannot live that way.” -Francis Chan
Disciples depend on
God's gentle grace because without it, we would fail- over and over again.
Disciples are not perfect by any means. Disciples are on the journey of life
just like anyone else, but they don't allow their mistakes to define them
because they know that they're forgiven and desire for everyone else to know
that they're forgiven, too, by reflecting the light of Christ to those around
them. There is no power that can match
His grace.
"And we
all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed
into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from
the Lord who is the Spirit," (2
Corinthians 3:18, ESV).
"But I do not account my life
of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the
ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the
grace of God,"
(Acts 20:24, ESV).
Ladies, living this
life is not about us, or our convenience. It's about the calling that God has
placed on our lives and doing whatever it takes to live for Him.
We belong to God. So what are you waiting for? Shout His name from the rooftops and proclaim the freedom that He gives us as we take delight
in Him! Wake up, rise up, and walk.
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