sacrifice.
if i had to put the cost of discipleship into a word, this would be the word. in the end, it’s important to know that it’s not about you but bringing glory to His name and dying your flesh as you fight for His fame. when it comes down to it, something I’m growing in is sacrificing with joy in my heart as I remember the great sacrifice of my savior.
I would say Jesus modeled discipleship and sacrifice perfectly in the gospel, but not only were we given the example of Jesus through the bible. also, we have amazing stories of missionaries like stephen, paul, and many others throughout the book of acts (and all of the bible) who counted the cost of following Christ and discipleship, but realized that Christ is worth giving your life for. paul is the one who wrote, “for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” stephen was martyred and as he died he fell on his knees and said “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
sometimes its easy to get caught in a “spiritual high” as you witness healings, people getting saved after your team came to serve them and tell them about the good news, and so many other incredible things. but, it’s important to also know that ministry is also sometimes only planting seeds and not seeing immediate fruit or it could look like persecution.
a few days ago, mark 11 was put on my heart. i always thought that this was so beautiful as it starts with an act of faith of the disciples when they go to get a colt by the word of Jesus. then people praised Jesus saying Hosanna which means “save” laying their cloaks on the ground as He rode on a colt.
this is such a beautiful pictue, right?
well while reading through this, the Lord revealed also a bit of a heaviness to this. a few days later, these same people shout “crusify Him” (Mark 15:14) and he wore a crown of thorns as He displayed the TRUE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP.
now, you may read this and think great but what does that have to do with today? a beautiful thing I’ve learned while on the race is that sacrifice can look different than giving your physical life for Christ, though that is a great sacrifice of love (John 15:13). sacrifice in the sense of discipleship can also look like giving the poorest/ least liked person in the room your chair, paying for the meal of a friend, or being gentle and meek when your flesh wants to retaliate against wrongdoing. sacrifice is living for Jesus. sacrifice means dying to the desires of your flesh and replacing them with those of the kingdom.
how can you sacrifice for the kingdom today?
here’s a link to my vlog: https://youtu.be/BusvhWXkpfU
thanks so much for reading and your support!!
