Reading Passage : Luke 9:23-24
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?
26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.(NIV BIBLE)
Pathway is very important,the way we walk is important as well. A Christian pathway should be different from another unbeliever (non Christian) pathway.
Discipleship means learning from the master. As a Christian, Christ is our master and we should learn from Him. When you learn from the master, everything concerning you change such as your Mentality, Physical life, Spiritual life, Economical life and social life etc.
The pathway of Christ is different from all other pathways because when you are in the pathway of Christ, He will transform you to become like Him.
Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how.(Message Bible)
Jesus is the driver that will lead you to the right pathway when you allow Him drive your life. Beloved, identify with this driver! Until you let Christ become the driver of your life, you will still face Difficulties so why not let Him drive you today?
To follow God, you don't need any educational qualifications, all what you need to do is to "deny yourself and follow Him" Deny yourself of some certain right you feel is good for you and follow Him.
HOW TO BECOME A TRUE DISCIPLE?
(Luke 9:23)
Deny yourself: denying oneself means saying NO to yourself and saying YES to Jesus. It does not mean denying yourself earthly possession neither does it mean to be poor but learning to make God first and you second. Denying of yourself is not a day thing, it is a process of one humblying oneself to Christ that is making God be in charge.
Mark 6:10
Pray for God's will to be done and not your own will. Care more about God's will and not your own will or the will of man.Take up your cross daily: Cross was an horrible and painful experience but Christ face it for my sake and your sake. As a believer you will experience painful and shameful things along your Christian life face it don't run from it, how you handle it will show if you have Christ in you.
In conclusion dearly beloved, the pathway of a disciple is full of joy and it is different from that of the world. Christ gives life, identify with Him today and your life will never remain the same.