The dynamics of discipleship (part 10)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – ROMANS 12:1,2

This is where most new believers stop, at the narrow gate, that entrance where the “Rich Young Ruler” rejected the Lord and refused to become a follower.

This is where we submit our lives as a sacrifice to the Lord, where we lay down everything we treasure and totally surrender our rights to follow Jesus.

Christianity is not a democracy like America where we are led by successful preachers to be leaders and commanders of finance and become CEO’s of God’s “Mega” churches.

This is a false teaching because Jesus taught His followers to die, taking up their cross and by losing their life in total submission to the King of Kings. This teaching is not popular in this country because it speaks against capitalism and competition.

In the above-referenced scripture in Romans it tells us not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed by renewing our minds in the word of the living God.

Renewing your mind is like renovating an old home, all the old interior, appliances and flooring has to be ripped out so that the new construction can begin, so it is with Christ, old things pass away and all things become new.

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” – LUKE 9:23-25