ESOCS Devotional 28 September 2024 – Marks of a True Disciple
MEMORY VERSE: “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” Luke 14:27 KJV
TEXT: LUKE 14:25-35
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
34 “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
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The word, “nominal Christianity” means in name only. It comes from the Latin word nomen, which means name. One of the biggest hindrances to Christianity has been nominal Christianity, or cultural Christianity. So many have turned away from Christianity and viewing it as credible because of the hypocrisy of those who call themselves Christians who are only Christian in name. So called Christian countries have engaged in war, etc. Even today, many social ills are laid at the feet of so-called Christians.
Today we carry on in Luke 14 looking at verses 25-35. Jesus has been criticising the false religion of the Jews as loveless, proud and selfish. Despite the very straight message that Jesus is giving, there is still a lot of buzz around Christ. There are still huge crowds following Him. Verse 15: ‘Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them: – Some will be there because they need a healing, others will be there because they want to see a healing, some will be there because their friends are there, some might like the fact that He is so critical of the religious leaders who they also do not like, some might be there to hear the teaching and are genuine seekers. Jesus knows that not everyone in the crowd is a disciple despite the fact that they are following Him around.
The bottom line that Christ stresses is that in order to become a disciple of Christ, it will cost everything; that He is to become the unchallenged Lord of your life, sharing your heart with no one and nothing else. He is to be supreme in your life. Christ tells us that there is only one type of disciple, the sold-out type. He has no place for nominal disciples. As we look at Christ’s requirements to become a disciple, we will look at them under three headings: hating relations, carrying crosses, and renouncing all.
- Do you also regard the gospel message as a hard saying?
- Father, help me to separate myself from the chaff of this world, so I can live the kind of life required of a true disciple. Amen.
Further Reading : Habakkuk 21:19; Daniel 10:4-21; Revelation 5:1-15
ESOCS Devotional 28 September 2024
