The Cost of Discipleship in Mission

2 Samuel 13-14; Matthew 24 

“’Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other…Because of the increase in wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.’”

Matthew 24:9, 10, 12-14

Jesus described the end times in which we are living as a time of great Gospel advance, along with great persecution and wickedness. We should expect to be betrayed and even hated because of the gospel, sometimes by those who once shared faith with us. Jesus calls his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. His journey of mission is our journey, sometimes resulting in death for the sake of the Gospel. This outcome is inconceivable for much of the western Church, but Jesus warned us to expect this. Our assignment is not to save the nations, but, rather, to testify to the Gospel of the kingdom of heaven. All of this is normal for a Christ-follower! 

When regular church attendance has become challenging, how will we endure the cost of discipleship?

“Lord Jesus, you are my first love. Strengthen me, by your Spirit, to finish well, for your glory.”