In this episode, we’ll discuss being part of Christ’s inner circle through discipline and faith, which leads to true discipleship. We’ll reflect on the cost of following Jesus, which is outweighed by the hope it brings. I’ll also share the ways faith empowers us to live holy lives in today’s world. Let’s begin with a prayer: Lord, open our hearts to Your will and guide us in the discipline of faith. Amen.

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As I was praying about the last few podcasts, the recurring theme was on silence, pondering in awe, Almighty God, and sacrifice, meaning discipline. I am wondering if it’s because I need it? The answer is yes! I do need it, and I need to be reminded of it often. That is typically how it goes when I podcast.

Have you ever wanted to be in that inner circle—in that group where people care for each other, where they are there for each other, where they will do anything for you? Many of us are blessed to have this within our families or a close group of friends. Can you imagine living in the time of Christ? What was His inner circle? It began with Joseph and Mary, and more than likely extended family. It then expanded to those who were called by Christ, who accompanied Him, who sat at His feet, and who benefited from His teaching.

Today, we have an opportunity to be in that inner circle by the very nature of our faith and belief in that Jesus Christ is indeed Lord. But being a disciple takes discipline, and in a way, it goes along with my last podcast on striving for holiness. I think we can be happy in the fact that the disciples selected by Christ were, in essence, a ragtag group. They were not the elites, the most learned, or the people with the most money; they were everyday working people, what people like to refer to as the everyday man. But that gives us such hope and, again, purpose. We need hope to wake up each day, praying it is better than the last. We need purpose, because without it we have no focus or goal.

As Scripture reminds us, and I love this!  1 Corinthians 1:27-28: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are.” This shows us that God calls the ordinary to do extraordinary things through Him. Don’t you want to be called? The very fact that you are listening today is a call.

These men learned to give up not only the life they had lived but to become disciples in a way that was going to give them true freedom and true joy—but at a cost. And you know that’s what keeps a lot of people from Christianity: the cost. Discipleship is not free.

It can be learned, but it takes work. Sometimes it means losing your friends, your job, and even your life. In some countries, Christians even today are being persecuted. They’re being wiped off the face of the Earth, and we are helpless, it seems, to stop this genocide. This cost is high, and yet most of us are not called to that level—yet we still take our freedom in Christianity for granted.

In Luke 14:27-28: “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” Jesus calls us to count the cost, but the reward is eternal joy and freedom in Him. Think about this. The world offers us a counterfeit, something that is temporary. Yet, Christianity offers us salvation and eternal life.

Most of us would agree that it’s important for an Olympic athlete to train, spend countless dollars, give up relationships and sleep, and push their bodies to unbelievable lengths to win a medal and the prestige and honor that come with it. In fact, it’s expected, and that doesn’t keep people from wanting to strive for a seat on an Olympic team. That isn’t just accepted, for a winner, it is mandated.

But isn’t it okay to work toward learning more about God? Faith is a gift, and salvation is free if we choose to believe in Christ as Savior. Yet, many don’t believe we should lose sleep to study, to pray, to surround ourselves with like-minded people, or to choose to be alone and contemplate the Almighty and what He has done for us!

Why then is the cost of discipline and being in the inner circle of people who love, honor, and serve the Lord so unattainable to some? I’ve been told in the past that being a Christian means giving up my freedom, that I am narrow minded that the gate to heaven is not narrow. If giving up my freedom means that I have trained and educated myself in the Word of God and the teachings of the Church, in the love that God has for me—that’s striving for holiness as I shared in the last episode. It means that if I watch what I say and govern my speech, I can bless others with words that build up rather than tear people down. I can be aware that true holiness means following God in all things. It means taking time to fast. It means spending time with God in silence. It means surrounding myself with others who are also uplifting and love the Lord.

Hebrews 12:1-2 encourages us: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Discipline in faith is our race toward holiness, and it’s empowering. And our example is Christ.

Discipline isn’t cheap, but it is so worthwhile. And true discipleship means asking the Lord again and again and again for His will in our lives. We can’t be complacent; that time is gone. Our world is in shambles, and people of faith are needed now more than ever. We have to be that voice in the darkness. We have to let others know that the love of God is true love, that the love of God does take discipline, but the love of God is so worthwhile. We have a purpose; we have a goal. We know that the enemy has been defeated, and I believe that the enemy knows that which is why there is so much chaos and confusion in our world. It is to take our eyes off of the prize, which is faith in Christ. In his defeat the enemy wants to take down as many as he can. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15)

And I challenge you today to make a list, to figure out the ways that you can, in the little slice of life that God has given you, share about the goodness of God. Sometimes it just means being a good example, a good neighbor, a good friend, a good student, a good coworker. Sometimes it means being a witness to others in ways that you will never see—it’s planting those seeds but letting God harvest. But whatever that is for you, know that you are part of this inner circle of those who love the Lord, who want to sit at His feet and hear what He has to say. And we can do that today by opening our Bibles, by memorizing the Word, and by living lives that are holy. May God be praised today and always.

Philippians 3:12-14 inspires us to press on: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Thank you for joining me on this journey of faith and discipline. Remember, God’s love calls us to more—let’s embrace it with joy!

For more encouragement on faith, purpose, and holiness, check out these additional episodes from A Few Minutes with God Podcast under the category on the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network:

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