UNDERSTANDING MISSION

 UNDERSTANDING MISSIONS (3)

Hindrances to Discipleship. Luke 9: 57-62

The desires and passion of every missionary is to raise and discipled men for Christ. We want to produce fruits that will remain. 

The quest to achieve this has made every missionary adopts and initiates various means at ensuring that men are made to grow in the image of Christ. 

Meanwhile, looking intently at scriptures reveals the various impediments at raising men for Christ. Christ during His earthy ministry was faced with men who would want to follow him and become his disciples. But unfortunately, they wanted the process of becoming His disciples in their own terms and conveniences. 

Let's examine these: 

Luke 9. 57-58 They were all traveling along the road. Someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you anywhere you go." He answered, "The foxes have holes to live in. The birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place where he can rest his head.

This first would-be disciples made up a self-assurance and personal move at following Jesus. He was too eager at waiting to be called. He reasoned that he has all that it take to follow. His move was a willful offering of oneself for divine service. Unfortunately, he was thoughtless of the COST and PRICE at following Jesus. 

Jesus loved him and will not want him to miss the track. He told him that even animals has better accomodation than him who has no where to lay his head. This was the cost. Is he ready to leave the comfort of the world and follow a wanderer who has no befitting resting place? 

That was the last we heard of the man. Perhaps, he was too comfortable to abandon the luxuries of life to follow a man without a definite resting place. His failure was that he was presumptuously attracted by the physical and miraculous life of Jesus. He thought of the dignity of been a disciple of a renowned Master and Lord. He thought of what he stands to gain by been called a disciples of Jesus. Unfortunately, the cost he was unwilling to bear. He was unaware that the cross preceded the resurrection and glory. He wants the glamour of new life without readiness to bear the shame of the cross. 

As missionary, we witness a lot of people who are attracted to our cause. But when they moved closer to see what we endure to make them see Christ. Then, they leave in annoyance. We have seen a lot of men who told us of their convictions to join us. But they left when their desires wane. The problem has always be that, they would not count the cost. They want the prize without been ready to pay the price. 

Peter OLAYINKA ( Living Grace Missions, Ilara)

... To be continued...