This week, we began to define what discipleship really means. In simple terms, it means “follow me!” Jesus never asked people to just accept Him or invite Him into their hearts. Instead, He called them to follow Him (Matt 4:19). That’s why I believe it’s better to refer to believers as “Christ-followers” rather than “Christians.” The term “Christian” was originally used as an insult, meaning “Christ-like” (Acts 11:26). This label was given because people noticed the resemblance in those who followed Christ. By following Christ, we gain the opportunity to imitate Him (1 Cor 11:1).
On Sunday, I talked about how following someone can be both simple and costly. It requires being alert, keeping your eyes and ears open (Prov 4:20-21). It’s simple because you can see exactly where your leader is going and what they are doing—just follow in their footsteps (John 10:27).
Following God can be challenging, but Christ says, “Come, follow me, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28-30). This “restful following” means that the leader understands your limitations. He knows your weaknesses and strengths (Psa 139:1-4). When Christ called His first 12 disciples, He didn’t invite the Pharisees or Sadducees to follow Him. Instead, He called those who were considered the lowest in society—sinners, fishermen, tax collectors, doctors, and even lawyers (Matt 9:9-13; 1 Cor 1:26-29). He qualifies us to follow Him (Col 1:12). I explained that Christ didn’t just call a few people; He called the 12 (Matt 10:1), the 70 (Luke 10:1), the 120 (Acts 1:15), and a great number of disciples. As we see in John 6:65-67, many fell away because they thought they had to be qualified beforehand. The cost that Christ asks us to consider is the commitment to following Him, not the journey itself (Luke 9:23). He will lead the way if we don’t look back (Luke 9:62).
In fact, if God were to tell us all the details of the journey ahead of time, we might not follow because we would try to measure our strength against the demands of the journey (2 Cor 5:7). I gave the example of Abraham. God asked him to leave his homeland and follow Him to a land He would show him (Gen 12:1). Abraham didn’t know where the land was, and God didn’t give him many details. As Abraham listened and followed, more of God’s plan unfolded (Heb 11:8). He was even asked to sacrifice his son to prove his trust in God (Gen 22:1-2). He set out to do it, but before he could go through with it, God told him to stop (Gen 22:10-12). If Abraham hadn’t been listening and following, he would have missed that crucial moment.
To end this, discipleship is not just about knowing Jesus or accepting Him in words alone; it’s about following Him with our whole lives (James 1:22). To be a true Christ-follower means to walk in His footsteps, to listen carefully to His voice, and to trust Him even when the path ahead is unclear (Isa 30:21; Prov 3:5-6). Just as Abraham trusted God without knowing all the details, we too are called to follow Christ without needing to see the full picture (Heb 11:1). It’s a journey that may be challenging and sometimes costly, but it’s also one that brings true rest and purpose because our Leader knows us intimately—our strengths, our weaknesses, and our needs (Psa 23:1-3).
Let us remember that Christ has called each of us, not because we are perfect or qualified, but because He qualifies us through His grace (2 Tim 1:9). As we commit to following Him, let us not look back or try to rely on our own understanding (Prov 3:5). Instead, let’s trust in His leading, knowing that He will guide us every step of the way (Psa 32:8). May we embrace the cost of discipleship, knowing that the reward is far greater—a life lived in close fellowship with our Saviour, and the ultimate joy of being found faithful at the end of our journey (2 Tim 4:7-8). Amen.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk