Men's Monday Message: Make Disciples
- ceolabriola
- 13 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Good morning followers of Christ.
That is what being a disciple means.... to follow.
Not as a puppy dog scampers after its master, but to follow a discipline, a culture, a cause or an ethos...
In our case the Lord Jesus and the truth he brings...to be a disciple of Jesus.
That is what Jesus charges us to do... make disciples.
But what does that mean?
It isn't knowing the secret handshake of some club simply to get access, there is more... much more.
John 8:31 (NKJV) Jesus says, "if you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed".
Sounds simple enough.
But, wait...
Matthew 16:24 is a bit tougher... Jesus also says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me". (NIV)
Deny myself?
What about the "greater things than these shall you do" stuff?
Reminds me of my air force recruiter... "sign here and see the world!"
Never said anything about being shot at.
Oh wait, there's still more...
Luke 14:26-27 (AMP) Jesus continues... "“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God]—he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple."
That's a strong commitment.... especially the "dying" stuff.
If I'm honest, I wonder if I qualify?
So let me share what, I believe, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart.
Maybe it will benefit you, too, as it does me.
It is not about the dying, for we all will pass through death...
... it is about the living.... living as Jesus shows us how... conforming to His example in how we are to live.
For Jesus also said in John 11: 25-26 (NIV), “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Think about it!
Strength and Honor, but Only for His Glory,
MDN Coach Dennis Labriola
Author of Seventh-Inning Stretch: Reflection on the Game of Life
Seventh-Inning Stretch: Reflections on the Game of Life by Dennis Labriola, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
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