THE COST AND BEAUTY OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP
To walk with Christ is more than to admire Him from afar. It is to follow Him in heart and in life, to be so joined to His will that our own desires bow in reverent surrender. Many begin with zeal, but few endure the refining path where self must die that Christ might live. Discipleship is not a road of comfort, but of transformation. It is not a call to improvement, but to crucifixion. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
The Christian life begins not with what we do for God, but with what He has done for us. Yet discipleship goes further—it is the outworking of that divine life within us. The cross that once saved us now shapes us. In dying to our own will, we learn to live by His. This is the mystery of true freedom: that surrender brings victory, and that weakness becomes strength when placed in His hands. The disciple who abides in Christ learns that obedience is not a burden, but a song of love rising from a heart made new.
Discipleship is also a call to intimacy. It is not mere instruction, but communion. Jesus did not simply teach principles. He shared life. He washed the feet of His followers and broke bread in their presence. In that humility, we see the heart of the Master. To be His disciple is to let Him wash our hearts clean, again and again, and then to go and serve others with that same tenderness. A disciple’s greatness is measured not by knowledge, but by likeness to the Lord.
The path is narrow, but not lonely. Christ walks with us, and His Spirit breathes strength into weary souls. The world may scorn the disciple’s devotion, yet Heaven smiles upon it. Every hidden act of faithfulness, every quiet surrender, every whispered “Yes, Lord,” becomes a thread in the tapestry of eternal glory. The discipline of discipleship is not an end. It is a preparation for endless fellowship with the One who first loved us.
Let us then follow Jesus with eyes fixed upon Him. Let the gentle winds of His Spirit renew our minds, and the living Word guide our steps. Let every thought, every breath, every moment be consecrated to His purpose. For in losing all for Christ, we gain what can never fade—His presence, His peace, His likeness formed within. “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (John 15:5). May we be such disciples, conformed to His cross and filled with His life forevermore.
Lord Jesus, draw my heart nearer to You. Teach me to follow You not in word only, but in quiet obedience and daily surrender. Let my life be a reflection of Your love, and my will be lost in Yours. When the path grows narrow, strengthen me to keep walking. When my faith grows weary, breathe Your peace within me. Let every step, every thought, and every act of service bring glory to Your name. Form in me the spirit of true discipleship—humble, steadfast, and filled with Your light. Amen.
Bryan Dewayne Dunaway
