Thoughts On Discipleship

I was over at Alan Knox’s blog, the Assembling of the Church, where he was commenting on a post by Geoff at “My Blog.” The meat of the article focused on a definition of “disciple” by Dallas Willard.  In the article Willard said,

“We need to clear in our heads about what discipleship is. My definition: A disciple is a person who has decided that the most important thing in their life is to learn how to do what Jesus said to do. A disciple is not a person who has things under control, or knows a lot of things. Disciples simply are people who are constantly revising their affairs to carry through on their decision to follow Jesus.”

When I first read this quote, I was incredibly excited.  In a lot of ways I’ve come to revise my life around the pursuit of Jesus and the mission He has called us to. However, the longer I stewed on this thought, the more something didn’t sit right with me.  And I think what didn’t sit right with me is the fact that there is some more “constant revision” that needs to happen in my life. Check out this quote I stole from Jesus about discipleship:

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it,” (Mark 8:34-35).

So while I believe I am revising my life to follow Christ (and that is something seriously worth rejoicing in), I think there’s more to go.  Laying down your life has serious implications that “revising your life” doesn’t always include in our typical Western mindset. But it’s something we must embrace, pursue, and in the pursuit continue to revise life so that it submits to Jesus.  He is worthy of a body of people who are not just believers, but disciples.

So, are you a disciple? What does it look like to lose your life for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel?

(Stay tuned Friday for an interesting thought that occurred during this post.)

Photo Credit: Sermon-On-The-Mount-Carl-Heinrich-Bloch-19th_C by ideacreamanuelaPp