The Cost of Discipleship

“Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” – Philippians 3:4-8

Paul, (once called Saul) a well educated Pharisee of high regard and degree, had an encounter with Jesus that challenged everything he had been taught to believe. If anyone had a right to trust in his flesh, in his logic, in his upbringing, in his education, in his religion, in his own strength, in his own knowledge, it was Paul. He not only had reason to trust and cling to it all, but also a vested interest in doing so as he had so zealously believed these things in which he had been taught that it had cost people’s very lives at his hands in defense of his beliefs.

Yet now he had more then words on paper or someone else’s teaching, he had an experience and a choice. Do I cling to what I thought I knew, or do I humble myself before the mighty hand of God and submit to what He Himself is revealing to me, not just in words, but in power and in demonstration?

“But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” – 1 Corinthians 4:19-20

Paul chose to abandon all, to count everything that he thought he knew as dung, everything he thought he was, everything he had hoped to attain, everything. He humbled himself, laid it all down at the feet of Jesus and said, “I count it all as dung that I might attain You.” Not to know about Jesus, but to know Jesus, personally. Paul was willing to give up everything he thought he knew and sit humbly in prayer and be taught how to follow Jesus, by Jesus Himself. A privilege that Christ died to make available to all of us through the Holy Ghost whom he sent to lead us into all truth. However, we cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit, nor His divine truth if we are already full of ourselves. We have to be willing to be emptied first. We have to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God and count all that we think we know, are, and want as dung that we might attain Christ.

If pride comes before a fall then humility comes before true exaltation. Don’t assume to know anything but that God is smarter, humble yourself, repent, and seek His face and He Himself will fill you up and raise you up in the demonstration and power of the Holy Ghost in due time. All it will cost you is everything, but when everything becomes equated to dung to you in comparison to Christ, then everything becomes a very small price to pay.

“If any man come to me, and hate not (count of no regard in comparison to your love for Christ) his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. (Compromise) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” – Luke 14:26-35