The discipline of discipleship
12 – “Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 – Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
14 – And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 – And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 – And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 – Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 – When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.” (Ruth chapter 1 verses 12 to 18)
- You must be discipline:
Discipline is a fundamental component of authentic discipleship.
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (1Corianthians chapter 9 verses 25)
- You must cleave to who you are following:
“And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.” (Ruth chapter 1 verses 14)
2 – “And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
3 – And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
4 – And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
5 – And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
6 – And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.” (2Kings chapter 2 verses 2 to 6)
- You must avoid distraction and being discouraged:
“And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.” (Ruth chapter 1 verses 15)
- You must be willing to obey at all time:
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:” (Ruth chapter 1 verses 16)
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John chapter 14 verses 15)
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark chapter 8 verses 34)
- Bringing your body under subjection:
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1Corianthians chapter 9 verses 27)
- You must be willing to die for what you believe in:
“Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” (Ruth chapter 1 verses 17)
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians chapter 1 verses 21)
Conclusion:
12 – “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 – Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 – I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians chapter 3 verses 12 to 14)
The discipline of discipleship demands that we will keep pressing on till we meet our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, and hear say to us, “Welldone you good and faithful servant.”
