What is discipleship really?
Those who follow Jesus’ commandment entirely, who let Jesus’ yoke rest on them without resistance, will find the burden they must bear to be light. In the gentle pressure of this yoke they will receive the strength to walk the right path without becoming weary.…Where will the call to discipleship lead those who follow it? What decisions and painful separations will it entail? We must take this question to him who alone knows the answer. Only Jesus Christ, who bids us follow him, knows where the path will lead. But we know that it will be a path full of mercy beyond measure. Discipleship is joy. Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28–30 This is Jesus’ “commandment” that we are to follow (See John 15:12) Love that requires no condition, no strings and no excuses. We are to love people because he loved people. Not because we are loved back or equal to our liking.
To be a disciple is not just to believe in Jesus, it is to follow Jesus. This commandment is Jesus’ “yoke,” we are changed if we bear it without resistance. We are linked to a Saviour that wants us to live in a more joyous way, not struggling against the yoke of love, and then hurting ourselves in the long way. John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." We can't even love God or ourselves if we can't do the simplist of His commandments" John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Consider what the writer is saying in this Psalm. "Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long." Psalm 25: 4-5. So to love God is to love people. Jesus didn't just die for the publicans and undesirable, he died for the sins of all. Those that loved him and those that did not. We need to make a decision today about our truth of discipleship. We are either going to follow truly or we stand in the way of his mission in our world. Pray this prayer with me: "Lord Jesus, only you know where my path will lead, but I trust that, even if I do not know either the way or the destination, you are with me and before me, and I follow you with joy."