Discipleship

“Then He said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” — Luke 9:23 (NIV)

I read this verse a couple of times and wondered just what it must have been like for the disciples to deny themselves and take up their cross daily to follow Jesus. Folks, I would like to say I do that daily, but I fall so short.

Our modern society emphasizes “self” so much that it can make Jesus’ call in Luke 9:23 seem countercultural or even restrictive. In a world where we emphasize popularity, success, achievement, comfort, and control, it can almost seem radical to think about denying “self.”

There has been a lot of discussion surrounding discipleship at Restoration lately. True discipleship often requires sacrifice, perseverance, and obedience even when it’s uncomfortable. Some have said they feel confident in their ability to disciple others, and some say they feel totally unequipped to do so. Every discipleship relationship is different and unique. Regardless of how confident you feel, discipleship is a lifelong process of walking with Jesus and learning to reflect His character in every part of life. It is about a daily surrender to His will, growing in the Word, prayer, community, service, making disciples, endurance, trust, and transformation. It looks like Jesus living His life through you in your home, work, friendships, and heart.

I heard a story of a family that took an opportunity to reveal Jesus to someone in their community with just one small act of kindness. The family had inherited two large bags of beef jerky from their son’s school fundraiser. They weren’t really sure what to do with such a large quantity of beef sticks, so they decided to keep a bag in the family vehicle and pass them out to anyone in need. A short time later, an opportunity presented itself. The family pulled up to a stoplight, and there was a homeless man standing in the median with a sign asking for help. The mom, who was in the passenger seat, rolled down the window and handed the man a few sticks of beef jerky. He thanked her and asked her to pray for him. In that moment, the family had two choices: they could drive off as the light was changing, or they could take the opportunity to deny self and reveal Jesus. They prayed for healing, hope, and peace. When they finished, he said, “Thank you. You didn’t just give me food — you reminded me God hasn’t forgotten me.”

In that moment, the family realized that discipleship isn’t just about knowing more about Jesus — it was about becoming more like Him. Following Jesus means denying ourselves, stepping into obedience, carrying out compassion where it is needed most, and letting God use us beyond our comfort zone.

Discipleship is not a one-time decision — it’s a daily journey. It’s about learning to hear Jesus’ voice and obeying it, even when it’s not easy.


Jason DeBord
Church Elder