Redefining Discipleship

Life is full of trials and tribulations, joys and sorrows, laughter and mourning, and a constant shifting of sands that leaves us wondering at which point we will stand on solid ground. As I prepare for marriage, it is amazing to me that two lives consistent of such uncertainty can come together, striving for complete unity and intimacy...

Now lets move beyond the marriage relationship, beyond parental relationships and broaden our sense of unity to those outside our immediate circles. Can we ride on the unreliable road of life with others who are not within our natural circle of influence? Can we succeed, rejoice, suffer, and fail with others who may never give to us in return? Can we make disciples?

I am beginning to understand with a little more empathy the lamentations of Paul's letters to the churches he invested in. I can hear the cry in Chris'ts voice a little more clearly when he inquired as to why the three in the Garden could not keep watch with him for even an hour. I am beginning to understand that discipleship is more than just preaching or teaching. Discipleship is hard. Discipleship comes with sweat and tears, because it is more than just teaching a lesson once a week. To truly and intentionally disciple, you have to live life with strangers. When they fail, you fail. When they succeed, you succeed. When they are filled with sorrow, you are filled with sorrow. When they rejoice, you rejoice with them. Discipleship is taking a stranger alongside you and walking along the narrow road to eternal life, and through the journey realizing that that stranger becomes closer than a brother.

It is a hard command to obey, the last commandmant Christ gave, and maybe he gave it at the end so that all who had followed him would understand the true definition of making disciples of all nations. Maybe the hardest part of it all is knowing that there will always be people you will learn to love, walk with and then they will walk away and never look back. The question is, are we willing to suffer that loss so that the rest may find abundant life?

Just a thought...