Discipleship: Growing in Christ

Text: As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62

This is the price that Chirst has asked us to pay to follow Him. The cost of following Jesus. Does this challenge you? Being a disciple is tough, it is not easy.

1.) Growing is a matter of DIRECTION - v.62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Which direction are you going? You should have your eyes/attention directed on the place in which you want to go, or else you are sure to veer off the path. Proverbs 4:25-27 tells us to, Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. In Hebrews 12:2, we are encouraged to, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Discipleship is all about direction and focus. As we fix our gaze on Christ, the more we become like Him.

2.) Growing is a matter of DEVOTION, DEDICATION, DETERMINATION, DESIRE, DILIGENCE & DISCIPLINE. Acts 2:42-47, They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Stick-to-it-tiveness. Stay on task till it is done. When will it be done, we don't know? So stick to it. 1 Timothy 4:13-16, Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Are the rows that you are plowing, the road that you are walking straight? If you were to look back at the work you have done, is everything according to His design or yours?