Your First Step Of Discipleship

Welcome to 'First Steps Into The Kingdom'.

Over the next six days, as part of this Map you will receive a new Trail in your Day Plan.

As a reminder, like a GPS and navigational system for your spiritual development, these Trails will help guide you step-by-step, day-by-day through the narrow path.

Are you ready to begin?

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus tells us: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Take a moment to allow this verse to penetrate, then select 'Successful' when you are ready to move on.

First, what does it mean to you to become a disciple of our Lord, Jesus Christ?

Write your answer in the space provided.

Now listen to what Jesus has to say in Luke 14:26-27:

“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."

Take a few minutes to meditate on what Jesus in saying. Allow His word to penetrate.

Select the 'Successful' response when you are finished

How aligned is your concept of what it means to be a disciple with the unmistakably clear description Christ has given us?

Describe any differences from your idea of discipleship from what Jesus tells us in Luke 14.

Be specific.

The Christian theologian, Oswald Chambers, offers the following account of the Luke 14 verses:

"If the closest relationships of a disciple’s life conflict with the claims of Jesus Christ, then our Lord requires instant obedience to Himself. Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person — our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a vast difference between devotion to a person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause — He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. To be a disciple is to be a devoted bondservant motivated by love for the Lord Jesus. Many of us who call ourselves Christians are not truly devoted to Jesus Christ." (Note: go to 'documents' to read the entire commentary.)

Select the 'Successful' response when you are finished.

Regarding discipleship, Oswald Chambers goes on to say:

"Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace; our work as His disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God.

One life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit."

Do you agree?

Given what you now understand about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, is this what you truly want?

Before you respond to that question, read what Jesus has to say about your answer in Luke 14: 28-35:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Now, again, do you truly want to commit to becoming a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ?

If your answer is 'Yes', you will find this journey to be passionate, life-giving and glorious. All the best that life has to offer...It will also demand all that you can handle and then some!

If your answer is 'No', we appreciate your honesty. If you wish, you may go to your 'Scheduler' and remove this Map from your Day Plan. Of course, you are welcome to return again at any time...and we hope that you do!

Tomorrow, 'Your Second Step' of discipleship will appear on your Day Plan.

See you back on the Trail then!