Admirer or Disciple

Clarence Jordon was a radical disciple of Jesus who was a leader in the civil rights movement as early as the 1940”s.  Once Clarence came to his brother, Robert Jordon, who was an aspiring young lawyer who later became a State Senator and Supreme Court Justice in Georgia.  Clarence asked his brother to represent them in a civil rights case.

Robert responded “Clarence I can’t do that.  You know my political aspirations.  Why, if I represented you, I might lose my job, my house, everything I’ve got.”

Clarence reminded him, “We might lose everything too.”

But, his brother protested “it’s different for you.”

Clarence responded, “Why is it different?  I remember us joining the church together on the same Sunday as boys.  I expect when we came forward the preacher asked me about the same questions as he asked you.  He asked, do you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  I said yes, what did you say?”

Robert began to get uncomfortable with this line of questioning, he said, “Well, I do follow Jesus Clarence, up to a point.”

“Could that point by any chance be the cross”, asked Clarence pointedly.

Robert replied “That’s right.  I follow HIM to the cross, but not on the cross.  I’m not getting myself crucified.”

Then, said Clarence, “I don’t believe you can call yourself a disciple.  You’re an admirer of Jesus, but not a disciple.”

Jesus says in Luke 14: 27 “whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”  The cost of discipleship has not changed.  There is no such thing as a “casual” Christian or “part-time” believer.  There is no sub-category of occasional Christian.  We’re either all-in or we’re not.  There is no middle ground.

Are you an admirer or a follower?  The cost of following may seem high at times, but the ultimate costs of refusing to follow are even greater.  Besides, the blessings and the joy of knowing Christ are worth it.  The ultimate rewards are out of this world!
If you haven’t already I would encourage you today to follow Jesus.  It will be the best decision you’ve ever made.
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Have a great week!
Pastor Barry