The Word disciple; what images does it conjure up? Do you think of the 12? Do you think of an apprentice in a science fiction or martial arts movie? Do you ever wonder, Christian, if this word truly applies to you or not? The Word Disciples, as used by the early rabbis in Jesus' time, meant "those who collect the dust from their master's footsteps." It meant that those who followed behind, followed slow close to their masters that the dust would collect upon their clothes and bodies that came up off their master's feet when they walked. Disciples sought to be like those they followed, walking, talking, reasoning, even dressing and eating like those they followed. Disciples were people serious about following after the ones who called them. When Jesus called His disciples, it was something of an oddity. He didn't pull from schools of thought, or from rabbinical schools, but rather he chose fishermen, tax collectors, rebels, and men who'd been plying trades. In other words, Jesus chose men who'd been passed over by other rabbis because they were deemed unworthy. Jesus did not pick based on knowledge, skill with the scriptures (The Gospels will show that right out), or the usual terms: he chose based on the willingness of the Heart. When Jesus says Follow, how do you follow? Do you follow based on your knowledge, wisdom, or the willingness of your heart? Are you trying to live in the world and the Kingdom? With Jesus, the call to follow is an all or nothing call. Don't hold anything back.
Luke 14:25-35 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Cost of Discipleship
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 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? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Salt Without Taste Is Worthless
34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

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