This post was originally posted at #Bigbible Project on 10th Apr 2013
Discipleship and its Cost (@minidvr)
APRIL 10, 2013POSTED IN: BIGBIBLE
http://www.seedresources.com/view/images/fishing-nets
Having recently completed a course on ‘Deepening Discipleship and Pastoral Care I had cause to reflect on ’ Discipleship and its cost’.
We are all called to be disciples – aren’t we? Mark 1:14-17 (NIV) points us to Jesus’ first call to his disciples;
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” 16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people. “
I see this in the context of Proclamation of the Kingdom of God. ‘Follow Me’ represents the institution of God’s Kingdom here on earth through Jesus. And, the foundation of the Church, his body on earth.
It seems to me that the call ‘to follow him’ supersedes all other earthly calls, it’s from God the highest authority and overtakes any call of humanity, although it complements those human calls that are in accordance with God’s plan and intention for his world.
Being a disciple means surrender of self to God, its requires dying to yourself and rising in Christ (Romans 6:8). Paul gives us the idea of applying the patterns of Christ’s life to our own through Baptism. He draws this out more in 6:10-12 (NIV).
“For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts”.
What does this mean?[1]
ŸTo learn to go deeper in trusting Christ’s superior wisdom.
ŸCall to go beyond our wordly experience, tried and trusted routine and comfort zone.
ŸWhen we are at our worst – Jesus appears and invites us to try again, trusting his superior wisdom.
ŸChoosing to be naïve.
ŸDo it again, one more time, comes to people, who have lost their innocence and are defeated.
ŸDeep water – when we are most vulnerable, events go beyond our control.
ŸEvery call is to enter back into the paradoxical wisdom of the cross.
Where does discipleship come from?[2]
Discipleship springs from Grace and is nourished in God’s grace.
ŸGrace without Jesus and the Cross is ‘cheap grace’.
ŸDiscipleship means ‘counting the cost of Grace’.
We can do nothing without Grace and need to seek it again and again.
We need to trust and learn to expect more from God’s overwhelming grace.
Early on, Jesus demonstrated the Grace and power that flowed from God through him: (Luke 5:1-11(NIV)).
“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him”.
Discipleship:[3]
A lifelong way of honouring the God, we love, celebrated in lifelong worship.
Grace leaves us awe struck!
ŸBeing a disciple is to learn to venture further on his sovereign authority!
We hear the sovereign voice of Jesus “DON’T BE AFRAID”!
ŸTrusting a superior wisdom is the way of discipleship!
ŸWe will be catching men!
Discipleship can be costly:[4]
The early disciples paid with their lives for following Christ (Peter & Paul to name two). You are called to make that same sacrifice if needed.
ŸBeing called means giving up all earthly ambition and desires and submitting ourselves to that of God while we seek the Kingdom of God here and now.
ŸLiving in God’s love and humility in a self sacrificial servanthood to others.
Why bother?
This is the question that we probably ask ourselves time and again, as we struggle to get through our daily lives. Surely it’s easier to just ‘let go’ and accept that the here and now of our existence has to be enough and to make the best of it?
But, it seems to me that we are more than that. We are uniquely created each person has integrity and is of value. It’s our reliance on human, secular values that has allowed the world to become a troubled, place of conflict, poverty, and social injustice. There is within us that sense of ‘otherness’ of something greater than ourselves. Surely, we shouldn’t settle for the norm, but we should be seekin that spiritual nourishment and grace, which is only available from God. It’s not actually case of we’re all in it together’ rather one of ‘God is in it with us’ and if we acknowledge that, we are hearing the call to be his disciple.
[1]based on CWR Discipleship Lecture, Wk 6, Pastoral Care in the local church, Oct 09
[2]based on CWR Discipleship Lecture, Wk 6, Pastoral Care in the local church, Oct 09
[3]based on CWR Discipleship Lecture, Wk 6, Pastoral Care in the local church, Oct 09
[4]based on CWR Discipleship Lecture, Wk 6, Pastoral Care in the local church, Oct 09
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