What thoughts come up when you think about discipleship? Maybe you’re not sure, jaded from past experience, or looking for more ways to grow in your walk with God. If you’re like me, it wasn’t too many years back where I would have no idea what to tell you about discipleship.
That’s not too odd, unfortunately. It doesn’t fall all on the shoulders of every church, either. I was part of the majority of my generation to exit church with no plan to return. Church may have been talking about it, but I was asleep in my bed during that sermon.
I’ve learned a handful of things since then and I would love to share them with you.
First of all, discipleship is the walk Jesus was always talking about. There really shouldn’t be a difference today between the terms Christian and Disciple. During Jesus’ ministry, they were one in the same. While the Apostles spread out, they made disciples from those that believed the gospel they brought. It is the natural route the Christian takes in walking with God – becoming more like the Master by learning and following.
Second, discipleship involves a lot of submission. So much that it is hard to swallow, which may be why there is such a gap between Christian and Disciple. The rich young man that came to ask Jesus what it takes to be His follower left disappointed.
Jesus also calls for His followers to love God so much that they drop it all. Family. Wealth. Life itself.
Submission can get a bad name. If you’re like me, I want my freedom and no one is allowed to step on that. I call that being Texan, but it is really a sign that I don’t understand what submitting to the God of the Bible really means.
Submission is not humiliating, it is the result of becoming humble.
Submission is not being put in a cage, it is strong boundaries that allow you to be yourself and still loved.
Submission is giving up your sense of control and delivering it to the One that will protect you.
Take a peek at the Psalms, particularly of David, and see the refence made over and over to God as the rock, as the refuge, as the mountaintop. In his submission David finds safety. He is so close to God, how would anything come at him anyway?
Submission is being really real with God. He knows you thoroughly, yet the conversation with Him brings us up to speed on the state of affairs. In turn, God shows more of His empathy and grace with you – you see more of His really real.
Submission is the slight pause when once there was none. It is in the decision that leans on what God desires for us. It is surrender of your will and thoughts and desires and fears and all of the rest of it, too.
And it is so good. Challenging. Rewarding. Instantly gratifying to that beautiful soul you carry around – even if/especially when it isn’t satisfying for the flesh.
Apprenticeship may be a word more up-to-date, and even that concept is fading from culture. We have a world now that defines reality and morality be one’s own standards. Submitting to the King resets the worldview from post-modern back to solidly founded on the rock and refuge David clung to so often.
Go! Go everywhere and preach the gospel, baptize, and make disciples. Submit, and carry Jesus’ mission forward. Til Kingdom come.