True Discipleship

Last night I started reading "True Discipleship" by William MacDonald. Again. This is a book that gripped my heart for God long ago when I first became a believer. I raced through the first couple chapters last night and it's gripping my heart again. From chapter 1, are the "terms of discipleship as laid down by the Savior of the world."

1. A supreme love for Jesus Christ. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26). By comparison. The hardest part about this is hating myself compared to my love for Christ, MacDonald points out.

2. A denial of self. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself…” (Matthew 16:24).

3. A deliberate choosing of the cross. “If any man come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross…” (Matthew 16:24).

4. A life spent in following Christ. “If any man come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

5. A fervent love for all who belong to Christ. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

6. An unswerving continuance in His Word. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). Not unswerving continuance in following a preacher or author.

7. A forsaking of all to follow Him. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).

Gulp!