The lesson for this week invites us to consider what it costs to be a disciple. Christ comes to separate us from everything that would keep us enslaved, but I see his offer as hurtful at first glance. “Give up everything? For what?” Our lesson presents that when we allow Jesus to divide us from the world we gain unity in the Body of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus separates us from the world and the Holy Spirit unites those of us who have been separated into a living Body, that then can be equipped to be Christ to the world. What does this dividing entail? Here is a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book “The Cost of Discipleship”:
“When the Bible speaks of following Jesus, it is proclaiming a discipleship which will liberate mankind from all man-made dogmas, from every burden and oppression, from every anxiety and torture which afflicts the conscience. If they follow Jesus, men escape from the hard yoke of their own laws, and submit to the kindly yoke of Jesus Christ. But does this mean that we ignore the seriousness of his commands? Far from it. We only achieve perfect liberty and enjoy fellowship with Jesus when his command, his call to absolute discipleship, is apppreciated in its entirety. Only the man who follows the command of Jesus single-mindedly, and unresistingly lets his yoke rest upon him, finds his burden easy, and under its gentle pressure receives the power to persevere in the right way. The command of Jesus is hard, unutterably hard, for those who try to resist it. But for those who willingly submit, the yoke is easy, and the burden is light.” p. 40
We must count the cost of what we are committing to when we become disciples. In reality I give up nothing that I will not have to give up at some point in life. Everything on this planet is wasting away, including me. But what I gain by walking with Jesus is power for today and hope for tomorrow. Listen to our memory verses this week:
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Let Jesus cut you free from any tie that still binds you to the temporal world. What you gain in this is eternal connection with His Body, and a full understanding of His will for all of us.
Our church desperately needs disciples who can discern God’s will. Be one of us!