Devotion And Commitment In Discipleship

Devotion And Commitment
Essential In Discipleship

Many of us have had the privilege of being born and raised in Christian homes. We go to Christian meetings, read the Bible and sing hymns. We feel we are in the right place doing the right things – and yet, something is missing. Occasionally, in moments of introspection, we worry about the insipid emotion that accompanies our Christian life. It feels so different from the excitement and satisfaction which invades us as we make progress in our school studies or climb the company ladder. It differs so much from that freshness and anticipation as we book our next holiday or come home with a new electronic gadget. Is our Christian dullness normal? Is our version of Christianity genuine? Are we correct in calling ourselves “disciples” of Jesus Christ?

What Is A Disciple Of Jesus?

A disciple is a learner, one who follows a teacher and submits to his teaching. In the New Testament the term “disciple” is used about 270 times. It is not interchangeable with “saved” or “born again” Christian. In a wide sense, it is used to refer to those who walked with Jesus or who were positively inclined towards Him (Jn. 6:66; 19:38). Sometimes it is used exclusively of His 12 followers (Lk. 22:11). It is also used to identify those with greater commitment to Christ. We find both male and female disciples (Acts 9:10,36). Probably in scorn, the disciples were first called “Christians” around 44 ad (Acts 11:26) – a term only used three times in the New Testament. It is only from the second century onward that the name “Christian” was accepted by believers as a title of honor. In his writings, Paul never used the words “disciple” or “Christian.”

Luke relates an incident in which Jesus explains what He expects of His disciples (Lk. 14:25-35). That day, many people had set aside their work and occupations to learn of and support the teachings of the Lord. Were they really disciples? What was their degree of commitment? Jesus turns to this crowd of easy followers and shocks them, as He puts before them three basic conditions.

1. Jesus – the one I love most
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be My disciple” (Lk. 14:26 NIV). The Scriptures promote family values. Clearly, we are not called to despise our family members. Here the term “hate” is used in a relative way (Mt. 10:37). Among the different people we know, we naturally love some more than others. What Jesus is saying is that unless we love Him more deeply and more strongly than any other, we cannot be His disciple. Jesus claims that supreme place in our heart. What place does He have in your heart?

2. Jesus – my top priority
“Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple” (Lk. 14:27). In those days, under Roman occupation, those who carried their cross had only a few hours to live. What would go through the mind of a man as he carried his cross? He’d experience a deep change in priorities. That family dispute over an inheritance would seem so insignificant now. His diplomas, bank accounts, and social standing would become so worthless. His expected harvest, business projections and retirement plans would be so irrelevant.

To carry one’s cross is to live every day aware of death and eternity. To carry one’s cross willingly is to surrender our perceived rights. The cross changes our values and priorities. It is not wrong to plan, dream and aspire. What Jesus is saying is that unless He is our top priority, above our personal dreams and aspirations, we cannot be His disciple. What dream or force is driving your life?

3. Jesus – my most valuable possession
“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple” (Lk. 14:33). This statement does not condemn private property. The issue is our attitude toward what we own. We are provisional administrators of God’s blessings, never absolute owners. We are born naked, and we carry nothing with us when we leave. Yet during these few decades of life, it is amazing how tightly we can hold on to material things. For some it’s a car, house or investment portfolio. For others it’s a laptop, special clothing or a music collection. What do you possess that brings you great satisfaction? Jesus says unless we value Him above all our possessions, we cannot be His disciples.

Saltiness
We know that our salvation is a gift form God. We cannot earn it. We humbly and gratefully receive it. Jesus is not setting out the conditions for salvation. He is clearly pointing out the attitude required for normal Christian living. The expression “he cannot be My disciple” – reaffirmed by our Lord three times – adds great force to this standard. Modern Christianity allows for much more flexibility. Many of us seem to be satisfied because we follow church traditions, are baptized, and because we follow what we consider correct doctrine. But does our lifestyle differ significantly from that of the materialists, humanists and pleasure-lovers around us?

There is nothing wrong with creating wealth, helping fellow humans or having some fun. But the standard Jesus calls for generates a completely different outlook on life: “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” (Lk. 14:34). The appeal is not to look like salt, but to be salt – to have flavor, to influence, to transform, to have saltiness. This commitment to the Lord must express itself in the details of how we live. And what if we fail? Sadly we do! We must never forget the grace of God. As born-again Christians we are now children of God. We are accepted and deeply and unconditionally loved by the Lord. Our successes and our failures do not make Him love us more or less. His love for us is constant and our salvation is secure. Why then does He call for such a high standard of devotion?

Building a tower, fighting a war
As He set out His three conditions for true discipleship, Jesus painted two pictures in the minds of His audience: that of a builder who would like to construct a tower (14:28-30), and that of a king who considers war against another king (14:31-32). The builder and the king should look at their goal and consider what they need to achieve it. We could understand these pictures as a call to consider the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Salvation is a free gift from God, but it involves breaking our pride and our stubborn will. Are we willing to pay such a price? Are we looking for an easier version of Christianity?

Perhaps we could also look at these pictures from another angle. We know that our Lord currently has a goal: building His Church. We are “living stones ... being built into a spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2:5). In stating these conditions, the Lord is pointing to the desired quality of His building blocks. We know we are currently engaged in a spiritual war. The three conditions above reflect the degree of commitment Jesus demands of His soldiers. If He is not the one we love most, at some critical point we’ll deny Him to please another. If He is not our top priority, at some critical point we’ll refuse His leading and follow our dream. If He is not our most valuable possession, at some point we’ll reject His cause to protect our investment.

Take it or leave it!
Our Lord is not what we today would call “politically correct.” In fact, He is sometimes radical, provocative and confrontational. He wouldn’t change His eating companions or postpone a miracle to avoid offending the religious. He would speak openly about enemies, adultery, divorce and religious hypocrisy. He wouldn’t dilute His words to satisfy His audience or to increase the number of His followers. In John 6 we find Jesus encouraging a move away from shallowness and toward a deeper relationship and devotion. On hearing Him, many exclaimed “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (Jn. 6:60).

How do we feel about the high standard set by Jesus? Many were attracted to His warm personality. Many followed Him for material benefits or for a needed miracle. But when Jesus called for deeper involvement, many “turned back and no longer followed Him” (6:66). How do leaders feel when their followers start to walk away? Does Jesus also have a cheaper, less demanding version of Christianity to offer? Is He now willing to negotiate a special deal with His closest friends so they do not leave Him? As Jesus looks at the backs of those who wander off, He turns to the remaining 12 and asks, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” (6:67). They were also free to turn and depart. Although they were His closest friends, Jesus would not lower the standard to retain them. Let’s make no mistake, that high standard of devotion to Jesus is still necessary today.

What’s the alternative?
Each of us has a motor inside that drives us, that makes us get up in the morning, that spurs us to study and work hard. It inspires creativity and makes us willing to sacrifice. The motor can be a striving for comfort, security or success. It can be a fleeing from fear, insignificance or emptiness. What is your driving force? Peter pondered his options. Was Jesus asking too much? Should he also leave Jesus and follow the departing crowd? He looked at Jesus and answered: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God” (6:68-69). Who else is worthy of that central place in our hearts and lives today?

Jesus is not calling Christians to separate from normal social interaction and hide in monasteries. But He is calling for a radical internal change. You will no longer see yourself as a mother, an engineer or a nurse who happens to be a Christian. You will see yourself as a Christian who happens to be a mother, an engineer or a nurse. This devotion to Jesus does not make people eccentric or detached from the world. When Jesus is the passion of our hearts, life takes on its proper perspective. We become better students, workers, neighbors, children, parents, Christians. Only the centrality of Jesus leads to a healthy balanced life.

Conclusion
Jesus gave His life to redeem a people that would then belong to Him. Salvation is now offered to any who repent, believe and give their life to Him. Salvation is a gift; the Christian life is a challenge. If we are to be useful to our Master, if we are to be true disciples of our Lord, something inside us must break. When Abraham showed he was more devoted to God than to his son, he received his son back. But in the process, the Lord broke something inside Abraham.

Have you reached brokenness before God? Do you still hold something back? We must purposefully surrender our own plans and dreams – we must take up our cross, and set Jesus at the center of our hearts. How did Paul manage to keep going with joy under such adverse circumstances? He was committed to Christ: “For to me, to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). Surely He’s still worth it!

By Philip Nunn