What are the requirements of Discipleship, following in the Master’s footsteps?
"Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed you.” So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:28–30)
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate (Love me not more than) his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26, 27)
The word hate is apparently used in contrast with love. To be a disciple of Christ means that we must love supremely the Lord and the principles for which he stands, so that love for others would comparatively be hatred.
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)
“Jesus gave three prerequisites for discipleship, as follows:
1) Love for the Lord has to be superior to love for family and love for self.
Our commitment to the Lord has to be so definite that even if a breach results, we will be loyal to the Lord and not submit if family wishes us to go in another direction. And we must love the Lord more than our own life. Stated another way, we must love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. “Hate” means to hate by comparison (as was stated above). Compare Matt 10:37, “He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
Jesus is not calling those with average enthusiasm. He wants us to be over-comers based on faith in Christ’s power, protection, etc.
2) An individual must bear his own cross and follow after Jesus.
In other words, each one has a particular problem when first coming into the truth as well as afterwards, and that problem must be borne patiently and faithfully. Jesus said to “come after me”; that is, "Follow my leading; walk as I walked.” We must walk in Jesus’ footsteps.
Two conditions are sometimes mentioned, of which the second is more advanced: (1) self-denial and (2) cross bearing. Self-denial, the negation of self, is necessary but not sufficient. There must also be cross bearing, following after Jesus. In other words, the Christian must do certain things. Many have the idea that the Christian just gives up something or does not do this or that, but the Bible has much instruction on what to do.
Jesus’ advice was to count the cost. One could look at this advice from a discouraging standpoint, but the intention was otherwise.
Which one of us in our own strength would contemplate doing the Lord’s will? We have to exercise faith—something like Joshua and Caleb. Ten spies reported how big (like giants) the inhabitants of the land of Canaan were, whereas Joshua and Caleb trusted that the Lord would overrule. Thus two of the twelve gave an encouraging report. Fear enlarges the difficulty; it magnifies the problem. The Christian should be optimistic. If God says something can be done, it can be done, and we are not to weigh the situation from the standpoint of our own capability, even though the wording is somewhat like that here in Luke.
Jesus said that if we contemplate building a tower, we should first sit down and consider the effort needed to construct it, for if we do not finish the tower, people will look at it and mock. The advice is not to rush into consecration without giving it consideration. Consecration is a marathon race. When we enter that race, we should realize it is a long haul—unto death. The race is not run in short spurts. Having some sense of the responsibility involved will carry us a long way. The evangelist who preaches Christ should be careful not to play on the emotions of individuals because emotions waver. We all have ups and downs. We should not be discouraged but should be realistic about what consecration entails. The Lord would not call one unless the individual could make his calling and election sure.
Consecration is a lifetime commitment, and it is helpful to know in advance that consecration requires above-average effort. As shown by the illustration of the king (Verse 31) having 10,000 men and the enemy 20,000—twice as many—the ones who excel in their consecration have the drive and the desire. They make the effort to supersede their normal capabilities. Lesson: Run to win the race, not to come in second or third. Exert the effort. Run as if there is only one crown.
An attitude is being stressed here. If we have the desire, the Lord will prosper it.
Verses 32 and 33 are strong talk. Jesus was saying, “Do not compromise. Count the cost first so that when an ‘enemy’ approaches, you will not compromise, putting peace ahead of purity.”
“The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable” (James 3:17).
3) Jesus’ disciples must have the desire to forsake all that they have.
We should examine ourselves and ask, “Am I really running the race with the hope of gaining the crown?” This question should be asked not only initially but repeatedly throughout our consecration. Two things can keep us from getting the crown: (1) dropping out of the race completely (a Second Death destiny) or (2) compromising (a Great Company destiny).
At the present time the battle is chiefly within ourselves—conquering our own spirit. In times past there were physical persecutions, and they will occur again in the future. We should gain inward victories now so that when outward persecution comes, we will zealously and enthusiastically wage an aggressive war against the evil.
In advance of consecration, we should ask, “Do I really want to do the Lord’s will?” (How much am I willing to sacrifice?) We should search our own motives at the beginning, during the race, and at the end.” (The Gospel of Luke)
Continued with next post.
"Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed you.” So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:28–30)
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate (Love me not more than) his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26, 27)
The word hate is apparently used in contrast with love. To be a disciple of Christ means that we must love supremely the Lord and the principles for which he stands, so that love for others would comparatively be hatred.
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)
“Jesus gave three prerequisites for discipleship, as follows:
1) Love for the Lord has to be superior to love for family and love for self.
Our commitment to the Lord has to be so definite that even if a breach results, we will be loyal to the Lord and not submit if family wishes us to go in another direction. And we must love the Lord more than our own life. Stated another way, we must love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. “Hate” means to hate by comparison (as was stated above). Compare Matt 10:37, “He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
Jesus is not calling those with average enthusiasm. He wants us to be over-comers based on faith in Christ’s power, protection, etc.
2) An individual must bear his own cross and follow after Jesus.
In other words, each one has a particular problem when first coming into the truth as well as afterwards, and that problem must be borne patiently and faithfully. Jesus said to “come after me”; that is, "Follow my leading; walk as I walked.” We must walk in Jesus’ footsteps.
Two conditions are sometimes mentioned, of which the second is more advanced: (1) self-denial and (2) cross bearing. Self-denial, the negation of self, is necessary but not sufficient. There must also be cross bearing, following after Jesus. In other words, the Christian must do certain things. Many have the idea that the Christian just gives up something or does not do this or that, but the Bible has much instruction on what to do.
Jesus’ advice was to count the cost. One could look at this advice from a discouraging standpoint, but the intention was otherwise.
Which one of us in our own strength would contemplate doing the Lord’s will? We have to exercise faith—something like Joshua and Caleb. Ten spies reported how big (like giants) the inhabitants of the land of Canaan were, whereas Joshua and Caleb trusted that the Lord would overrule. Thus two of the twelve gave an encouraging report. Fear enlarges the difficulty; it magnifies the problem. The Christian should be optimistic. If God says something can be done, it can be done, and we are not to weigh the situation from the standpoint of our own capability, even though the wording is somewhat like that here in Luke.
Jesus said that if we contemplate building a tower, we should first sit down and consider the effort needed to construct it, for if we do not finish the tower, people will look at it and mock. The advice is not to rush into consecration without giving it consideration. Consecration is a marathon race. When we enter that race, we should realize it is a long haul—unto death. The race is not run in short spurts. Having some sense of the responsibility involved will carry us a long way. The evangelist who preaches Christ should be careful not to play on the emotions of individuals because emotions waver. We all have ups and downs. We should not be discouraged but should be realistic about what consecration entails. The Lord would not call one unless the individual could make his calling and election sure.
Consecration is a lifetime commitment, and it is helpful to know in advance that consecration requires above-average effort. As shown by the illustration of the king (Verse 31) having 10,000 men and the enemy 20,000—twice as many—the ones who excel in their consecration have the drive and the desire. They make the effort to supersede their normal capabilities. Lesson: Run to win the race, not to come in second or third. Exert the effort. Run as if there is only one crown.
An attitude is being stressed here. If we have the desire, the Lord will prosper it.
Verses 32 and 33 are strong talk. Jesus was saying, “Do not compromise. Count the cost first so that when an ‘enemy’ approaches, you will not compromise, putting peace ahead of purity.”
“The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable” (James 3:17).
3) Jesus’ disciples must have the desire to forsake all that they have.
We should examine ourselves and ask, “Am I really running the race with the hope of gaining the crown?” This question should be asked not only initially but repeatedly throughout our consecration. Two things can keep us from getting the crown: (1) dropping out of the race completely (a Second Death destiny) or (2) compromising (a Great Company destiny).
At the present time the battle is chiefly within ourselves—conquering our own spirit. In times past there were physical persecutions, and they will occur again in the future. We should gain inward victories now so that when outward persecution comes, we will zealously and enthusiastically wage an aggressive war against the evil.
In advance of consecration, we should ask, “Do I really want to do the Lord’s will?” (How much am I willing to sacrifice?) We should search our own motives at the beginning, during the race, and at the end.” (The Gospel of Luke)
Continued with next post.
