DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.–Luke 9:23-24   As you well know, most people are always looking for the easy way out. They want the crown without the cross, the blessing without the burden. But, when it comes to discipleship there is no easy way out, it is costly! The demands of dicipleship cost the same today as it did when Jesus walked the earth—everything. But it is worth it. J.R. Miller wrote: We are strongly tempted, in these luxurious days-to seek out the easy ways in life. Naturally we are not fond of bearing heavy burdens, of performing hard tasks, of making self-denials. We prefer to be indolent. Not many people die of overwork; more die of laziness. Souls are withered, too, by self-indulgence. It is a false idea that God has sown his blessings thickest. amid the flowers of earth’s gardens; nay, they lie thickest on the bare fields of hardship and toil. In shrinking from self-denials called for in the path of duty-we are missing the best things God has to give us.