Discipleship Considered 2 (Cont)

Discipleship Considered 2 (Continued)

We now return to our series of blogs on discipleship. Here are a few more reasons why invidividuals may wish to embrace the path of service for Christ.

4. FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS.

It seems redundant to say, but the spirit of the disciple must be in tune with the spirit of his/her Master. When Jesus said, "the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20.28; Mark 10.45), He vocalised a burden for souls that reflected the heart of the Father. He also said, "the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19.10). In a similar manner, when the disciple has a burden for souls, he/she truly reflects the heart of the Saviour and demonstrates that he/she is a true follower of the Master. Evangelists, whose specialised work is the salvation of souls, are one of God's gifts to the Church (Eph.4.11). Furthermore, all Christians are encouraged to do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim.4.5).

5. FOR THE 'WELL DONE' OF THE SAVIOUR

There is nothing quite as comforting as having the satisfaction of a job well done. Of knowing within yourself that you did your best and the result was as good as you could possibly have made it. If this is then endorsed by your peers, then deep joy; but if it is confirmed by the Saviour Himself; to have Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt.25.21,23), O what glory! Martin Luther wrote: "there are only two days in my diary' today and that day".

6. FOR THE VICTOR'S CROWN

Then there is this other aspect. Paul, illustrating his own path of discipleship wrote; "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown" (1 Cor. 9.25). Then speaking at the end of his life, having completed his race, having finished his course, and having fought his fight, he also wrote; "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day" (2 Tim. 4.8). James joined in with; "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (Jas.1.12). And Peter; "and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away" (1 Pet.5.4). Leaving aside what these individual crowns mean, it is clear that they are not simply given to those who are believers and little more. Crowns reflect either a position of authority or victory, and these described by the New Testament writers are for those who have been faithful in service. Jesus, our fore-runner and example, was crowned when He completed His course. The writer to the Hebrews summed it up, "... we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour" (Heb.2.9)

Next time we will look at the disciple's commission.