Deliberate and Unique Discipleship with Unexpected Life Rewards

Deliberate and unique discipleship is our “intentional or purposeful” decision to follow Christ. Deliberate discipleship can also be our helping someone else follow Christ.

Deliberate discipleship begins with Christ laying down His life for us. Jesus became the sacrifice for our sins. When we turn from our sins, receive His forgiveness, and allow Him to transform us – He takes our filthy garments of sin and clothes us with His righteousness.

“Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].’” ~Mark 8:34 AMP

To be a Christian means to be a disciple or follower of Christ.

“And to be a disciple of Jesus means to follow Jesus. There are no disciples of Jesus who are not following Jesus. Christians are people who have real faith in Christ, and who show it by resting their hopes, fears, and lives entirely upon Him. They follow Him wherever He leads.” ~Mark Dever

I think our culture tries to make discipleship complicated, but discipleship is a deliberate act of our will to deny ourselves and to follow Him from a heart of surrender, trust, and obedience.

“Our Christian discipleship to Christ begins when we hear those two words and obey them: “Follow Me.” ~Mark Dever

When we are intentional, deliberate, and purposeful in asking, seeking, and knocking, the Lord said we would receive, find, and have [understanding] opened up to us. When we draw near to God, He is faithful to draw near to us and to reveal Himself to us.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” ~Matthew 7:7 NASB

And our reward? Transformation! Transformation into Christ’s likeness.

Recommendations:

Choose to Serve an Amazing and Loving God – Strength with Dignity

Realize this Unparalleled Truth: God Responds to Those Who Treasure Him – Strength with Dignity

References:

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631.

Dever, Mark. To Lead Others, Become a Disciple. Published by Crossway on November 21, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2023, from To Lead Others, Become a Disciple | Crossway Articles

New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is deliberate.