THE STRUGGLE OF SELF-DENIAL
“Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 NRSV Self-denial is a spiritual discipline that is hard to practice but is necessary for our growth in Christ.
Counting the Cost of Discipleship
Luke 14:28-30 provides an essential lesson on the importance of thoughtful commitment. Jesus is teaching the crowd traveling with him about the cost of discipleship. I imagine Jesus sees a guard tower under construction, turns, looks toward his followers, and says, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?"
Devoted to Fellowship
Devotion—what comes to mind when you think of what devotion entails or is? The first thing I think about is a faithful dog. Many of you, I am sure, remember the TV show Lassie. In nearly every show, Lassie rescues Timmy from some dangerous situation. I even experienced a dog's rescue when I fell into the waters of Buckeye Lake as a small child. The family dog, Mutsie, came to my rescue despite her fear of water.
Discipleship and Steadfastness
As Christians, it's crucial to recognize that life isn't always smooth sailing. Often, people will say, "How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!” In times of not-so-smooth sailing, we must remain steadfast and believe in God.
The Disciple Journey Begins With Love
What is the greatest commandment from God? It is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). The verse goes on to say; "And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). At the core of God's desire for our lives, is for us to love others and to bring them to Christ.