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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “The cost of discipleship” The cost of discipleship is the suffering, challenges or burdens a person must endure or incur on account of following Jesus or becoming His disciple. The theme can thus be rephrased as enduring suffering or challenges resulting from following Jesus Christ. We shall reflect on the following costs of discipleship:
1. Endure discomfort
2. Denying family
3. Discipleship requires focus and total commitment that is contrary to one’s will.

Firstly, one of the costs of discipleship or following Jesus is enduring discomfort.  “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Luke 9:57-58) Jesus meant that becoming His disciples may come with physical discomfort. One may not have the luxury of enjoying rest and comfort of the world. Preaching the Gospel is a lifetime engagement and a daily assignment that may take the disciple to places where he or she may go through uncomfortable situations or harsh and hard terrains. Paul confirmed this fact when he wrote to the church of Corinth, “… I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) Similarly, we have pastors and missionaries posted to areas or stations that can be considered as hash or uncomfortable, yet, they must continue to preach the Gospel and lead sheep that have been entrusted into their care. Becoming a minister or one called by Christ into full-time ministry comes with living and working in an uncomfortable environment and enduring harsh conditions.

Secondly, denying family and following Jesus Christ is another cost of discipleship. “He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-60) It is a common practice among the Jews, especially for first sons to spend time with their fathers in their old age so that they can fulfil the obligation of honouring and burying them. It was possible that the man’s father was not dead yet but was of ripe age and may be dying soon therefore he wanted Jesus to allow him to go and bury His father first. The time he was asking for could be a year or more if we should go by the custom. Jesus’ answer to the man indicates that anyone who prioritizes God over His parents is as spiritually dead as one who is physically dead therefore therefore let the dead bury their own dead. Jesus is calling the man to prioritize his call to bringing the spiritually dead to life rather than burying the physically dead. This calling requires that we leave family and loved ones behind, it requires that we may not have the luxury of spending the last moments with our family members even as they depart from the world. Responding to the call to follow Jesus, means that we may be far away from executing the mission of God and may not have the opportunity to mourn family members. It is a call to spend our time saving the spiritually lost and dying sheep in the world, not our time with our beloved and cherished family members.

Thirdly, the cost of discipleship requires focus and total commitment that is contrary to one’s will. “Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62) In other words, we must not allow our love for family to distract us from our calling. A believer’s family members may become an impediment to his calling. One’s wife or husband can dissuade him or her from faithfully serving the Lord. We must remain focused and committed to our calling lest our calling as faithful disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ will be compromised by our love for family. We must have time for family affairs and must not sacrifice our time for serving the Lord for family affairs.

In summary, we have identified some important costs of discipleship. They are, enduring discomfort, denying family and remaining focused and totally committed to one calling. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit empower us to remain faithful to our calling as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ even as we endure the cost of discipleship. Amen.