Taking Jesus Seriously — The Cost of Discipleship

This fall I really want us to take a look at our relationship with Jesus and see how we are doing at growing into the disciples that he has called us to be. Like any healthy relationship we need to step back and look at how we are growing together and how we are accomplishing the goal of the relationship. In our faith life—God loves us just the way we are, but he refuses to leave us that way. He wants us to be just like Jesus. This is the goal of our faith journey. So how are we doing at growing in our Likeness to Jesus? We are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. A disciple in Matthew’s gospel is one who understands, teaches, and does what Jesus taught and did. In Matthew’s gospel, discipleship is not a distinctive office or role but rather describes - the life of an ordinary follower of Jesus Christ. A person who was trying to model their life after Jesus.

What does that even mean in today’s society? Is the way that we are called to live out our faith different than the way that the disciples were called to live their faith? How are our faith journeys similar to theirs? All of this gets us thinking about our relationship with Jesus and what does discipleship cost us? Should it cost us?

Do you realize that Jesus has put us here for a reason? He needs us to do what he has
called us to do. To share his love and forgiveness with the people that he has put in our lives.
To be people who are not scared to live our faith in our daily lives. Who will go out and find the people who need Jesus in their lives and share what has been given to us. The disciples of Jesus day are no more gifted or special than you are. God loves you the way you are. He has called us to be people; lead and taught by him to be able to become like him in our daily lives; in thought, word, and deed;  to change ourselves and the society that he has called us to live in.

Being a Disciple of Jesus requires us to put forth an effort to stand up against sin and division to show the world the power of God’s love in our world. He wants us to make a difference in the situations of our daily lives. We do not have to go outside of our positions. We just have to continue to grow into the disciples that Jesus wants us to be.  God loves us and will continue to mold us and shape us—we just have to give him our heart—daily.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Stephen Barch