10 March 2024

FOLLOWING CHRIST IN DISCIPLESHIP

(Going Forward in Christ: GFIC 10)

Jesus was not interested in adherents but looked for disciples. In the early days of His ministry, He handpicked key men who would later be in His apostolic band. In Matthew 4, He called and chose four brothers: James and John; Simon and Andrew. Then later he picked Levi the Tax Collector then others like Philip and Nathanael, etc. The reason for this is that being the Son of God, He knew the hearts of men.

The Apostle John later wrote this about concerning Jesus’ insight of mankind: “Now while He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs He was performing and believed in His Name. But Jesus would not entrust Himself to them, for He knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for He knew what was in each person” (John 2:23-25). Notice that “many people saw the signs He was performing and believed in His Name”. But Jesus would not commit Himself to them. Why? He saw that these were not sincere but only superficial believers who wanted what they could get out of Him because they saw His miracles. They were looking for handouts but not Jesus.

Like those in John 6, who wanted Jesus because they could receive free meals from Him after they saw Him multiplying the 5 Loaves and 2 Fish to feed 5,000 people. Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for Me…because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (v.26-27).

These incidents show us that what is in our heart matters most to Jesus. Sincerity in believing and following Jesus because of Who He is, not because of what we think He can give. Jesus is the Son of God Who died for our sins and rose again to be Lord of all. Jesus wants us to acknowledge Him as the Lord of our life, not just Saviour of our sins. The Bible says, ‘If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom.10:9).

To acknowledge the Lordship of Christ in our life means to surrender totally to Him – all that we are and have. It also means to follow and obey Him with all our heart, soul and spirit. That is discipleship, not just mere adherence to His claims. A disciple is a committed believer and follower, who will live for Jesus, obey and honour Him throughout one’s life.

Unfortunately, in the Church today there are too many nominal “Christians”. They are like those in the Church at Sardis to which Christ said, “You have a name that you are alive but you are dead” (Rev.3:1). The Name of Christ means Life but they are spiritually “dead” because they did not live for Christ. They lived for themselves and for the world, showing that Jesus in not Lord in their life. May we never make that mistake and miss out on entering into eternal life when our sojourn in this world ends. May God help us and have mercy on us! 

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