Discipleship 101, part 1
Even today the work of the ministry is in need of individuals who believe they have a calling from God and are willing to be trained and sent where there are needs for kingdom builders. Jesus said this to His disciples:
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
- JOHN 4:35-38 (KJV)
These words are especially true in our day. Since we are living in the very end of the Gentile dispensation, we are in the final stages of soul harvest, reaping the precious and glistening fruits of those who sowed the seed of the Word of God.
As glorious as the harvest season may be to our hearing, we need, more than ever, men and women that are equipped for the task. As the Lord Jesus said, the harvest is truly great, and the laborers few. (Luke 10.2)
Becoming a disciple of Christ is both rewarding and laborious. But it is important to realize that labor comes before the rewards. Jesus regularly warned His chosen men of the hardships that they will face throughout their lifetime.
Let us read Luke 9.57-62:
And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain [man] said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Jesus showed His men three important things to consider when responding to the call of God:
1.) The hardships. The work of the ministry is hard labor, physically, mentally and emotionally. Those who desire to follow Christ must be prepared to leave their comfort zones. The ministry is not an escape from the troubles of this world. On the contrary, it adds to the amount of labors that one will have to face everyday.
On the other hand, the life the ministers of Christ is not all hardships. In the process of time, the Lord provides comfort and provisions, depending on how we live our callings.
Also, I have learned that the amount of hardships is essntially connected to one’s level and extent of ministry. The Lord alone decides on this matter. Our part is to follow Him and trust His designs.
2.) The priorities. Serving the Lord and the saints takes precedence in the life of a disciple. Your calling must be the center of his life: everything else is secondary.
This can be very disappointing for the disciple’s family, and it is the disciple’s responsibility to prepare his family as well.
3.) The commitment. Looking behind when you have already put your hand to the plough indicates half-heartedness. The Lord needs men who will stay and continue serving in every situation.
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