DAILY REFLECTION: THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

• Self-denial: He has to deny himself of some personal enjoyments. This means that the disciple must first of all do away with any ego because he cannot be higher than his Master who called him. "Ye have not chosen Me but I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit (John 15:16a). They must let go vices like self-centeredness, the I-before-others syndrome, the old man or the Adamic nature must be put to death. Comfort and leisure must give way for evangelism to win souls. Drunkenness, lust, deceit, etc must die.

• Take up the cross: Phil: 1:21 says "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain!" Like soldiers, farmers and sportsmen, they must be up and doing to win souls into God's Kingdom. No laziness is tolerated.

• Follow Christ: To follow Christ means that you have to like what He likes and hate what He hates. You must be obedient to His will.

• He cannot look back: Whoever decides to follow Jesus must be ready to die with Him in order to resurrect with Him. Whoever sets his hands on the plough must not look back. If a disciple backslides, he is not worth for the Kingdom of God. His mind must constantly focus on things of heaven. Everybody is entitled to be a disciple or apostle of Jesus. Age is no barrier. And Jesus Christ is our only Captain and standard, not any man.

PRAYER: O Lord, I surrender myself to You; use me as it pleases You and grant me a place in Thy Kingdom. Amen.