Jesus Christ said," I love the Father, and as the father gave Me commandment, so I do."(John 14:31) A disciple is a lover of Jesus Christ. It was Leonard Ravenhill who said. "You will not be judged for what you did, but for why you did it." If the works were done without love then the person will receive no reward, nothing , because without love he profits nothing and is nothing.(1Cor13:2-3) A person becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ when he chooses in his freewill to love Jesus Christ the way He loved him. Jesus never forces discipleship on anyone and that is why he always says," Whoever WANTS to be my disciples."(Matt16:24)
Why? Take for instance the famous song, "Grenade" sung by Bruno Mars. He sings," I would do anything for ya, but you won't do the same." Jesus Christ, desires, but does not need. He is already complete in a relationship with God and the Holy Spirit who are both just like Him. However, He desires to be loved by the people that He created and saved the way He loved us. Therefore He won’t force it on anyone.
But what is this love? There are many misconceptions of love today. "Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness." C.S Lewis said that and I'll also quote myself. "The only love that exists in reality is the perfect love of God described in 1 Cor. 13 which is poured into the heart of man during the painful and upon completion irreversible process of spiritual circumcision done by God causing man to love like God. Before this man is only capable of one or more of the facets of love, namely, patience, kindness , non-enviousness, humility, politeness, selflessness, good temper, forgiveness(where wrongs are forgotten), hatred of evil, love of truth, endurance, belief and hope. After God does this, he'll be able to do all the facets and perform love." It's this love that never fails. That is why God says in Deuteronomy 30:6. "And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord."
What is spiritual circumcision? In the Old Testament, it was an act done by the father to the child where the foreskin was cut off. In Galatians 5:22, Paul says that the first fruit of the spirit is love. In John 15:2, Jesus says that he will prune man to make him bear fruit. Well, a vine is pruned with a knife isn't it? During this painful experience, the man has two choices. In WW1, the soldiers had two choices on the field. "Kill or be killed". Gandhi, gave one slogan during his free India movement. "Do or die." During this particular experience, man can choose to say, “Stop" or "I'm not leaving you." to Jesus Christ. After this is over, they receive the capability to become disciples of Jesus Christ. That is why He says," If you love me, you will keep my commandments"(John 14:15) It is to these people He also says," Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him."(1Cor2:9)
Lastly, Discipleship is a personal thing that happens between Jesus and man and cannot happen unless Jesus reveals His love for the person whilst he is aware of it. Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them." (John 6:44) It's in a relationship between God and you, God and you, God and you, that a disciple of Jesus is His lover.
By: Thomas Kavoori
