The Making of a Disciple - 7 Days of MentorshipSample

Valleys of Learning—Costs of Discipleship

As we look at the relationship between mother and child, the mother begins to foster and develop a personal relationship with her son or daughter. There is a time when the mother stops carrying the infant and teaches them to walk independently. Some infants will walk quicker than others, while others may take months before they understand their ability. Similarly, Jesus teaches through the Holy Spirit how the disciple should walk before Him. Some will walk quicker than others, while others may take longer to understand their abilities through Christ. 

At the beginning of salvation for the believer, they are carried by the grace of God through mistakes and purposely-caused sins. God's potent grace disburses in the area of revealed sins in the disciple's life.  the law entered that the offense might abound. However, where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." During these times, sins are revealed in the disciple's walk, and God teaches the disciple how to walk properly and in the personal discipline before Him. It is essential for the disciple to develop their personal convictions and not walk in the convictions of their leaders or fellow brothers and sisters. Fellow believers' convictions can be guidelines for the disciple.  As the disciple matures, their personal convictions develop the understanding of the personal cost of becoming a disciple.  Jesus gives some powerful parables informing the disciples about the cost of discipleship.  

As the disciple progresses toward the call of God, maturity, demands, and qualifications of becoming an effective disciple must be in action. Luke 14 is a scripture that is hard for most to obey, let alone follow. The word hate is talking about an emotional mindset set up to pull on the emotions of the disciple. The word hate, as shown in the scripture, is described as an emotional attachment. The definition of hate: "it is a deep and emotional extreme dislike." Hate in this context is a deep emotional detachment, and Jesus is explaining to those who want to be His disciple; there must be an extreme dislike of family ties and emotional bonds that are not attached to the faithfulness of the disciple to Jesus. Nothing can come between loyalty to Jesus and the will of God for the disciple. 

Having the mindset of putting the Lord before the family is complicated for most people to comprehend, and this is why few walk the road of a disciple. Breaking the emotional bond with the family will feel like a person is turning their back on the family that raised and taught them about life. The family is the single most deadly killer of spiritual attachment to God's will and purpose than any other emotional bond. Family ties and bonds have the ability to usurp the authority of God for the purpose of discipleship because of the emotional pull that flesh has on flesh. 

Families can place a demand on the disciple's time, care, and love that is supposed to be solely for the Lord and their calling as a disciple. That does not mean that we do not love our families and spend time with them and care for them. The meaning of the word hate for the disciple is to put God's call ahead of the family's emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual influence. It is essential that the disciple has a clear understanding of the cost of being a disciple and the influence family can have over their life.  

Sample prayer:

Father, please help me to understand the cost of becoming your disciple. Make me aware of distractions and cares in my life that can take my affection off You. I want to know Your will and the cost to obtain and walk in Your will; illuminate me. I ask this in Jesus Christ's name, Amen.