The Call to True Discipleship
Discipleship is the life that Jesus calls those who truly believe in Him to follow.
Accepting the personal call of Christ to discipleship should shape and define our daily life and practice. We cannot fully love our Lord and develop our knowledge and understanding of Him without embracing discipleship.
Jesus came to proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God and also to take action to establish it. In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus is walking by the Sea of Galilee (4:18). He was not out for a casual stroll, His walk by the water was an intentional step in calling His first disciples to Him. The call to discipleship is a command: "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" Matthew 4:19 (NLT).
Christ's call is direct and personal.
"You, follow Me!" This call cannot be blocked or terminated. It is not transferable due to personal preference or excusable due to other perceived obligations.
"Follow Me" may appear to be a simple task, but, these two words contain the potent seed for exponentially growing and sustaining the kingdom of God.
Following Jesus has a real cost, so we must examine what Christ is calling us to do, and to be, as His disciples.
"Follow Me" is more than just come after me. It is a call to imitate our Lord in life and word. It demands being like who Jesus was, and doing as Jesus did. It involves a paradigm shift in our thinking and practice.
A true disciple has only two obligations: become like Jesus; and pass on the truth of His teaching and way of life to others.
Think about your life, is there real evidence that you are a disciple of Jesus?
Take the time to pray about your daily walk with Jesus, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you be the person God has called you to be.
Seek ways to share the truth of the Gospel with your family and friends, so that they may know the joy of their sins forgiven and the gift of eternal life as they choose to follow Jesus as His disciples.
