I was channel surfing the other day and came across a program talking about how McDonalds is expanding their restaurants in China.
One of the things they learned is that they need to open 2 or 3 restaurants at a time in an area for them to be effective. They found opening just one doesn’t seem to have the impact or draw that opening multiples does for some reason.
The other thing they talked about was introducing drive-thrus to China. Evidently this is a new and novel concept there. They showed videos of people driving in the wrong way, stopping at the first window to pay and not knowing they should drive to the second window to pick up their food.
The biggest thing they noticed however is how many people purchase their food in the drive-thru then park and go inside to eat it.
Here in America we know all about drive-thrus. From restaurants to coffee shops to pharmacies and more, having a drive-thru is becoming an essential part of many businesses.
We are all about ease, convenience and comfort.
Of course there is nothing wrong with drive-thrus or other things that make life easier and more convenient, but I have noticed that this “make it simple, quick and easy” mentality often pervades my spiritual life as well.
The idea of being a disciple and helping others be disciples of the Lord is talked about often in Christian circles. As you know the word disciple means one who patterns their life after another, following their teachings, lifestyle and often mannerisms and obeys their directions and commands.
As Christians we are called to be disciples of Christ. To follow Him, become more and more like Him, let His Spirit mold us into His image, be obedient to Him.
As I thought about this this week I reflected on how our idea of becoming a disciple (make it simple, quick and easy) differs so dramatically from what the Lord said.
A story in the life of Jesus comes to mind. One day a rich young man who was one of the Jewish rulers came to Jesus and asked what he could do to inherit eternal life. Jesus replied that he should keep the commandments to not murder, steal or commit adultery and to honor his parents. The young man responded that he had obeyed these things since his youth.
We pick up the story in Luke 18:22, “And when Jesus heard this, He said to him, ‘One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when he had heard these things, he became very sad; for he was extremely rich.”
Obviously Jesus is not saying we can earn our way into heaven selling our things and giving the money away. The point is that discipleship is very costly. It must be the primary thing in our lives. Nothing is to be more important and anything that stands in the way must be removed.
That discipleship is to be this significant in our lives is stated throughout the New Testament. A passage that highlights this is Luke 14:26-30 where Jesus states:
“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.
“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying,’ This man began to build and was not able to finish.
“So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.”
Discipleship is costly. It’s not simple, quick or easy. We are told to count the cost. The reward for discipleship is as they say “out of this world” but it takes a lot of work and effort.
As I think about this the question comes to mind, which kind of discipleship do I have?
Is it the simple, quick and easy kind that balks at hardships, sidesteps challenges and gripes when I’m asked to give up or do without something?
Or is it the kind that Jesus talked about, discipleship that is willing to go the extra mile and not complain, striving to only and always do what is best for the Lord and the advancement of His kingdom, name and reputation, discipleship that hears what He says to do and obeys without question or debate?
There are some in our country that espouse Easy Discipleship and making a lot of money doing it. I think studying the lives of God’s prophets and what they had to endure, reading the life of Job or even looking at God’s great “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 shows clearly discipleship is anything but simple, quick and easy.
And if we were able to ask the prophets or Job or the men and women listed in Hebrews 11 is all they went through as God’s disciple was worth it undoubtedly they would give a resounding “Yes!”
Am I looking for easy discipleship or am I willing to accept all that discipleship truly means, to become like my Master, following His example, accepting what tells me, willing to follow wherever He leads?
That’s what’s been on my heart this week.
Mark
