What's it cost to be a disciple?

When we think of the term, “Disciple”, we often think of the 12 guys Jesus chose to follow Him throughout His ministry on earth.  Fair enough.....but what does it mean to be a disciple today?  My next several posts are going to focus on what it means to be a disciple.

Check out Jesus’ words when He challenged people to follow Him.

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,   “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost.  For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?”  (Luke 14:25-28, NLT)

Those are some pretty intense words and through these words Jesus raises the standard to as high as it can go.  If all you want is the “title” of Christian, it probably won’t cost you anything.  But, if you want to follow Jesus, be like Him, do what He did, you gotta understand that it will cost you.  You will lose some friends.  Some family members may turn on you.  It might cost you your job or a promotion.  In some parts of the world, maybe even in our country one day in our lifetime, it could even cost you your life.  So what does it mean to be a disciple?

Being a disciple means I give up everything to follow Jesus.

The word “Christian” has become watered down today.  It’s watered down so much that the vast majority of Americans would call themselves Christians.  From the White House to the poor house, the vast majority of Americans consider themselves to be Christians.  I’m not sure what that means for everyone, but for a lot of people it means, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God who died and rose again.”  It’s great to believe that, but believing that doesn't save anyone...it doesn’t make anyone a Christian.  Even satan believes that.  Simply believing that doesn’t put anyone in a right relationship with Jesus.

Being a disciple goes beyond cultural Christianity; beyond just believing in Jesus.  A disciple is one who puts their faith in what Jesus did when He died on the cross.  A disciple believes so much in Him that their whole life pursuit is to become like Him, and that not only are we to become like Him, but as a disciple, we are to do what He did - and there’s a profound difference between those 2 definitions.

If we are disciples of Jesus, we will do what He did.  I’m not talking about dying on a cross - I’m talking about living a life that emulates what Jesus came to do.  What did Jesus come to do?  John 10:10 and several other verses tell us:

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  (John 10:10, NIV)

If we are disciples, we will help impart that kind of life.

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”  (Luke 5:31b, NIV)

If we are disciples, we will be here for the sick, those who are in need.

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  (Luke 5:32, NIV)

If we are disciples, we will be there for the prostitutes and the lepers, the sinners, the no good, the low down, the outcast.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  (John 3:17, NIV)

Jesus came to do all of these things, including bringing people into a growing relationship Himself.  But that means going against the grain of what’s commonly accepted in society.  A couple of examples:  Someone strikes you on the cheek, you want to hit them back.  But Jesus says, “Turn the other cheek.”  Doesn’t make sense.  Someone curses you, you want to curse them back.  Jesus says, “No.  Bless them instead.”  Doesn’t make sense.  Someone asks you for your shirt.  Jesus said, “Give them your coat, too.”  Give them more than they expect. Someone says, “Go a mile.”  Jesus says, “Go two.”  Jesus says, “Give and it will be given to you.”  You don’t understand, but because Jesus says so, we follow.

Being a disciple begins with being sold out to Jesus.  I’m not talking about cultural Christianity where we simply believe Jesus died on the cross.......I’m talking about committed discipleship where I make God my top priority; where I put Him first in everything in my life; where I choose His way over my way and over the way of convenience; where I’m willing to take up my cross - to step away from all the other things I’ve been pursuing - and follow Him.  That’s what it means to be a disciple.  Jesus said:

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  (John 14:12, NIV)

A disciple who leaves everything to be like Jesus, will do the things Jesus does.