Ploughing to prepare

I had a picture this week of soil that was being ploughed. The furrows went very deep, far deeper than I expected for seeds to be planted. The ground was being prepared at the deepest level, no stone left untouched. I could feel the cost that was being paid by surrendering to such deep ploughing. It reminded me of a dream.

A few weeks ago I had a sobering dream. In the dream, a south African prophet was preaching about the cross of Christ. On the stage was a wooden cross he was using as an illustration. He said “People are not willing the pay the cost”. When he said that, I saw another cross fall onto the stage. Then he said “There is another cross”.

There is another cross. The words of Jesus echoed in my heart "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me".

What does it mean to take up your cross daily? What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?

A disciple in Jesus’ time meant to actively imitate the life and teachings of someone. It was an apprenticeship to become a living copy of the teacher. He doesn't ask us to live something that he himself has not lived.

Matt 4:19 - “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”

Jim Putman has a great framework for being a disciple. Matt 4:19. “Follow me”, we are to follow Jesus. “I will make you”, we are being changed by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. “into fishers of men”, we are committed to the mission of Christ. A disciple is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus and committed to the mission of Jesus.

Who are His disciples?

Are all believers disciples or only the really committed ones? The name “Christian” means little Christ or little anointed one. Its in our name. The moment we become a believer, we enter into Jesus’ discipleship program and are being transformed into the fullness of His image, a living copy.

What did Jesus say about being a disciple?

John 13:34-35 - A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 15:8 - This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

John 8:31 - To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Luke 14:26-27 - “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. [The word "hate" means to love less]

Luke 14:33 - those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. [The word "have" is reflexive, giving up all of ourselves]

Interestingly, in the dream he didn't say we are not paying the cost, he said we are not willing to pay the cost. There is a cost to being a disciple of Jesus. Being saved, by grace, through faith is a beautiful free gift paid in full by Jesus’ death on the cross, however being His disciple will cost us everything.

Are we willing?