The Cost of Being a Disciple

This is the first of six Plans on growing as a disciple of Jesus. This first Plan helps you decide whether you really are committed to being a true disciple. As Jesus made clear, being his disciple involves a challenging choice. You must weigh up the costs and benefits of serving Jesus and decide whether you are willing to sacrifice your life and desires to follow Him. This Plan will assist you in making this choice. We will start with the costs of being a disciple, but we will certainly get to the benefits.

Please note that this plan offers more than a daily reflection on Scripture. It is designed to forge everyday disciples who are aware of God’s presence and hear God’s voice throughout the day. Please try to build the lunchtime meditations and evening reflections into your routine, as well as the morning devotions. Before each session, pause to be aware of God’s love and presence.

MORNING

Read Luke 9:22-24

Devotion

When the early followers of Jesus saw His power and heard His promise of a new Kingdom, they knew they had enlisted in something special. They expected Jesus to be welcomed by the Jewish people and to establish His rule as the new King of the Jews. For them, being a ground-floor disciple of Jesus was an exciting and potentially rewarding opportunity. As early-adopters, they were going to have important roles in this new Kingdom.

However, when Jesus explained to his followers what being His disciple was really all about, He often started with the costs, rather than the benefits. Perhaps that’s because they had no idea of the costs. Jesus’ Kingdom was going to be the opposite of what they expected. For Jesus, being King meant rejection and martyrdom (9:22). And for His disciples, following Him involved self-sacrifice and daily crucifixion (9:23). Jesus was crystal clear: being His disciple would be a costly business. Oh, Jesus did offer an indication of reward in 9:24, but as we consider what it means to be an everyday disciple, we will start where Jesus started here – with the cost.

Jesus described three overlapping requirements for disciples.

1. Deny yourself. Everyday disciples embrace sacrifice. They surrender their own agendas and desires. They give up their rights.

2. Take up your cross daily. Everyday disciples embrace suffering. While Jesus’ audience didn’t understand the deeper implications of the cross, they had seen Roman crucifixions. They knew that “taking up a cross” involved embarking on a journey of shame, pain and death.

3. Follow Jesus. Everyday disciples embrace submission. They genuinely seek to do what pleases Jesus.

As Jesus made very clear, being His disciple is an extremely costly business. He didn’t make it easy. He clearly spelt out the requirements of being His disciple. Jesus asks the same things of His disciples today. He calls for sacrifice, suffering and submission. It’s a significant cost in a world that promotes freedom, pleasure, instant gratification and self-centeredness.

Prayer

I look forward to learning about the blessings of being Your disciple, but right now, help me to embrace the cost. You make it clear that being Your disciple involves crucifixion as well as resurrection. Please help me to trust You enough, to follow You and serve You no matter how costly Your call may be. I know I’m committing to sacrifice, suffering and surrender, but I genuinely have a heart to be Your disciple today.

Today’s Bible Focus

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me.”

LUNCHTIME (or when you can make a moment during the day)

1. Meditate for a short time on today’s Bible Focus. Let it seep into your heart.
2. Look and see what is happening around you from God’s perspective, and listen to see whether God is whispering anything to you.
3. Pray for any not-yet Christians God has placed on your heart.

EVENING

1. Remember: Repeat today’s Bible Focus.
2. Reflect: Reflect on the day, and thank God for what He has said and done.
3. Repent: Check where you have neglected or disobeyed God during the day, and ask for forgiveness and freedom.
4. Release: Name any concerns or fears on your mind and release them to Jesus.