"Whoever doesn't not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple" ~ Luke 14:27

In the Bible - the word Christian is used 3 times and the word disciple is used roughly 275 times.  This simple fact is enough for me think about these words...  I hope it makes you think about it as well...

Jesus said if a person does not bear his own cross and follow Him - That person cannot be His disciple.  This can be complicated if we make it so but hang with me because it's really simple...  

In America, it costs us virtually nothing to follow Christ.  Yet, when we pick up our cross and follow Him, it's supposed to cost us everything.  Cost... I'm not speculating on money but the very essence of our being.  Every aspect of our lives.  

In America, it costs us virtually nothing to follow Christ.  Yet, when we pick up our cross and follow Him, it's supposed to cost us everything.

Take a moment and get serious with yourself and serious with God.  What has been the cost for you?  Cost is not; Sunday morning church, mid-week Bible study... cost is not an eternal address in heaven or peace in affliction.  Cost is something that implies confessing and rejecting our sins, acknowledging that we are sinful to the core, submitting to Christ and letting Him rule over our lives.  That my friend is inconvenient... it's not easy, it's painful at times... It's a cross.  

The cross means that we must accept the death of our own self-directed life, die to ourselves daily and be willing to face whatever physical, emotional, or social persecution that comes -- and follow Jesus..  

The cross is full commitment; nothing else will do.

I don't want you to get me wrong... accepting Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me.  But it's not easy... I have a boss, a Lord to obey.  

A disciple does what Jesus does!  It doesn't just happen.  Being a disciple comes from hearing Jesus and doing what He says, what He did, and how He did it.  It's a total shift from the natural to the supernatural.  It takes discipline, willingness, and thought.  

I'm asking you to consider changing from a Christian to a disciple... not in name but personal identity.  Jesus said that He came to seek and save the lost...  That should be every disciples purpose... Identity!

What would you your community, your family, your church look like if you allowed Jesus to be your Lord and you to His disciple?  

My friend, talk to the Lord about this today.  Reason with yourself and someone else.  Let's get serious about our identity in Christ and the lost world out there...

Today, I'm asking you to pray the Acts way and in your confession and supplication ask Him to make you His disciple!

A - Adoration

C -Confession

T -  Thanksgiving

S - Supplication

Pray for one person that you know is far from God and ask God soften their heart toward the gospel.  If you are the one far from God... you can let me know.  I'd love to show you how you can be forgiven of your sins and be a disciple of Jesus!  

Tomorrow I'll have some new insight for you.  Until then... I will be praying for the enlightenment of your heart so that you may fully grasp the hope to which He has called you....

Pastor Don