“If anyone….” (The discipline of a disciple — part 11)

 Every so often, I like to recapitulate in order to surface and catch our breath.

My main vision in putting together the DAILY MEDS is for the purpose of explaining WHAT TRUE CHRISTIANITY IS and defining a path for us to actually be DISCIPLES of JESUS.

We have spent a few weeks in “Understanding the new man“; what truly happens when we get born again, and the new identity that Christ gives us, once we make Jesus our Savior and Teacher. Then recently we have been talking about the discipline of the disciple; what it entails to truly follow Christ and why there’s a spiritual warfare going on.

The main reason why I feel it is important for us to address the topic of genuine discipleship is because we’re going towards TOUGHER TIMES for Christians, and if we don’t understand the freedom that Jesus offers us, and have not exercised our faith muscles in order to grow into full discipleship, we will be too weak and will not pass the grade when THE TESTS GET HARDER.

I wish I could find a way for everyone to really understand WHO JESUS TRULY IS, and the WHOLE PLAN of God to redeem mankind from this hellish confusion that the devil has this world trapped in. –And that they would realize what an amazing, awesome, tremendous, eye-opening, rude-awakening REVELATION all this is.

The reason why following Jesus is so powerful and so important in anyone’s life is because it brings us back into the original purpose of what we were created for.

Some people say “why can I just be a Christian, without having to be a DISCIPLE. The answer is simple, there ain’t no such a thing. A Christian is supposed to be a disciple. Jesus said, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Mat 10:38).

There are preachers that have made it acceptable to be Christian without becoming like Christ. They have adapted the gospel to suit their people’s list of lusts for the world, and deviated from the gospel message in accepting compromise, indifference and neutrality. Those are downright dangerous to your spiritual life. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col 2:8).

Preachers who teach that a serious and devout life is optional and that Christianity can be casual are deceiving their congregation.  If discipleship is not even on the radar of the preacher’s program, that preacher and his church have no future.

All that Jesus is asking of us is to forsake and surrender all of the sins, deviations and horrible habits that we’ve learned in the world. “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another” (Tit 3:3). –all those things that kept us in shackles and negated our destiny, purpose and effectiveness.

Jesus said, “For whoever wishes to save his life (and his bad habits and addictions) will lose it (all), but whoever loses his (horrible worldly) life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:34-35).

What makes us followers of Christ is the fact that we apply the teaching of the teacher. A disciple is essentially a practitioner of the discipline. Reading the Bible doesn’t make you a disciple. Obeying the teachings of Jesus makes you a disciple.

Unless a Christian is able to obey closely the teachings of Jesus, I doubt that he can honestly be viewed as a Christian. There has to be more commitment. (Lk 9:46). The Word of God is meant to be bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions.

We cannot be shy about calling a spade a spade. There are some basic principles and disciplines in following Christ that are essential to keep us separated from the world and free from its bondage.

It was Jesus’ first and main concern when asked about the endtime, he said, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Mat 24:4,5).

So let’s readjust our compass to true North– Jesus. Let’s keep our eyes on Him and Him alone. Let’s get together with those in our church who also want to be DOERS of the Word and start OBEYING the Word. Amen?

THERE’S A HARVEST TO BE GATHERED….