(Mark 10: 17 – 31)
This means that to be a true disciple of Christ, we have to be brought under His control by training in obedience. There are two things to pay attention to here.
1. We see from here that discipline is not natural to us. It has to be enforced
2. Discipline has to be enforced by training.
In order to be successful in any area of life or any field of endeavor, we have to receive theoretical information and practical training. A medical or pharmacy or nursing student receives instruction in the classroom and then undergoes practical training in the hospital or pharmacy. A military recruit receives instruction in the classroom before being exposed to combat training. Receiving lecture alone will not make us successful or proficient in our area of study. We need both the theory and the practical. For the disciple of Christ, the Church is the classroom of the Holy Ghost and that is where we receive the instruction. The world is where we receive our practical training. Just coming to Church to receive instruction will not make us effective disciples of Christ. We must also be subject to the everyday training under the direction of the Holy Spirit. It costs something to be a successful nurse, doctor or attorney. It costs something to be a successful soldier. It will cost us something to be successful disciples.
In Mark 10: 17 – 31, Jesus told His disciples and us what it takes to be a disciple.
When the rich young ruler came to Him with the question “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”(Mark 10:17 KJV), Jesus said he should go and keep the Ten Commandments. He told Jesus that he had been doing that from his youth (v.20). Then Jesus said to him “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (Mark 10:21 KJV). Jesus was testing the instruction that the rich young ruler has about discipleship. It is one thing to thing to have head knowledge about discipleship, it is another thing to be trained in discipleship. As we hear the word of God, we will also be trained on the word by different life’s experiences that God allows us to pass through. It is through the experiences that we learn the lessons of discipleship. The Bible says that even Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered. If Jesus was trained on discipleship, we also must be willing to receive training on discipleship.