Have you heard the saying, “Do as I say, not as I do.” How about this saying, “Follow me as I follow Jesus?”

In following Jesus, we can do both what he says and what he does. We can also do what others are doing who are following Jesus.

Discipleship is in its essence emulation or imitation. We are to be more like Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wrote the church in Corinth, saying, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV).

What are your responsibilities as a disciple of Jesus? Have you considered your role in being a follower of Jesus? Have you considered the benefits of discipleship?

We often think of the benefits of being a disciple of Jesus, but more often than not, we neglect thinking about the responsibilities we have as disciples of Jesus.

Jesus spoke of the responsibility of his disciples in Matthew’s gospel account when he said, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12, ESV).

Are you sure about following Jesus as his disciple, or are you fearful and reluctant? Do you have confidence that being a disciple of Jesus is worth it? Are you ready and prepared to follow, having considered the benefits?

We can and should be confident and ready to be disciples of Jesus. When we consider the cost/benefit of being a disciple of Jesus, the benefits far outweigh the cost.

Jesus spoke of having confidence in following him in this way, saying, “What king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.” (Luke 14:31-32, ESV).

What does it cost to follow Jesus with our lives? Have you considered the cost benefit analysis of being a student of Jesus?

Being a disciple of Jesus—a Jesus follower, or student of Jesus—is a weighty matter which comes at a cost and requires finishing well.

In Luke’s gospel account, Jesus said, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27, ESV).

If we are not willing to carry our cross—to make the sacrifice of picking up and carrying our burdens and following Jesus—we cannot be his disciples. It costs us be his students.

Can you detect when there is pride in your life? Do you know when you are in a state of humility? Can you be intentionally humble?

It can be difficult to discern on our own if we are being prideful. We need the help and the wisdom of God and his word, and fellow followers of Jesus, to help lead our way.

Humility is life giving. Pride is dangerous.

The wisdom of the Proverbs tells us, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18, NIV).

What is the good word? When was the last time you shared a good word with someone who needed one? When was the last time you received a good word from someone?

In this anxious life, we can become heavy hearted and weighed down. We need the encouragement and hope of good news.

The wisdom of the Proverbs tells us, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (Proverbs 12:25, ESV).

What are the concerns and the cares that consume you? How is your soul doing?

The concerns and the cares of this world can be overwhelming and burdensome. Our souls can be consumed with the cares of this life. We can be overwhelmed by the anxieties of this world. Our souls can grow weary.

The Psalmist writes, “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” (Psalm 94:19, ESV).

Whose idea is love? Who thought of love first? Who takes the initiative to love?

God is love. Love is God’s idea. God loved first and always initiates love.

The Apostle John wrote about love in his first letter, saying, “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, ESV).

Is it easier to lift yourself up above others, to look down on them, and to make demands of them, or is it easier to take the position of lowly submission and service to others?

What goes up must come down. If we exalt ourselves, it is easy to fall and to be humbled. If we keep ourselves in a position of lowly service, there is little distance to fall, and it is easier to be lifted up.

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus said this about humility, “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11).

What is our greatest blessing and our greatest responsibility?

Jesus summed up the entire law in these two things, to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Love is our greatest blessing and our greatest responsibility.

Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV).

Where do you find your hope? Where do you find your joy? Where do you find your peace?

We all have some level of hope in our lives. We look hopefully for hope. We hope for joy. We hope for peace. We hope for God.

The Apostle Paul wrote a blessing to the church in Rome, saying, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13, ESV).

How challenging is it to get your foot into the door of God’s kingdom?

The door to our salvation is a narrow door according to Jesus. While many will seek to enter God’s kingdom, many will not be able.

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus went went through towns and villages, teaching as he traveled toward Jerusalem. As he went someone said to him, “‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?’ And he said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.’” (Luke 13:22-24, ESV).

Jesus sought to teach throughout all the towns and villages so that all might know him and the good news of his salvation.

Is your pathway illuminated? Can you see your way clearly?

A journey through this life can be complicated, cluttered, and lonely. It can be difficult to navigate our way in this dark world.

The Apostle John wrote in his first letter “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7, ESV).

We can choose to walk alone in the darkness, or we can choose to walk in the light of God’s presence and love and forgiveness.

When has the application of your faith in Jesus brought about conflict or division in your life as you went about living for him?

When we practice our faith and apply God’s word to our lives and live for him, there can be division and conflict. There can be fractured relationships between people who believe and people who do not believe in Jesus.

Jesus said that he came to bring the refining fire of his judgement, to divide what is good from what is evil and to do away with every impurity that is contrary to God’s kingdom.

In Luke’s gospel account Jesus said, “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” (Luke 12:49-51, ESV).

Where are you? Can you locate your current position on a map? Do you know where you are physically? Maybe your phone can tell you where you are, what weather you can expect, and how to get to another destination?

We know where we are physically and we can discern our geographical context, the climate, and the weather, but do we know where we are spiritually? Can we discern the times in which we live, where God is moving, and where God wants us to go and what he wants us to do?

In Luke’s gospel account, Jesus spoke about interpreting the times, saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:54-56, ESV).

Where is God when your life is excruciatingly challenging and you feel all alone?

God is nearer to you than you realize.

We are in God’s presence, because God is near. God is not far from his children. There is no place we can go that God is not aware of where we are and present to us.

God spoke of his nearness to his people through the Prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:23-24, ESV).

What does it look like to be strong, watchful, and firm in your faith?

The expression “man up” is often used as a call to be strong and courageous and to take responsibility for one’s actions.

As followers of Jesus, whether male or female, we are to be strong and courageous and to take responsibility for our actions.

The Apostle Paul wrote the church in Corinth, encouraging them to “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13, ESV).

What is your ultimate reward in life? What are you seeking out or desiring?

In the Old Testament book of Genesis, Abraham was looking for a son, a descendent to carry forward his name so that he would be blessed in life.

Genesis tells us “The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’” (Genesis 15:1, NIV).

In seeking out God’s blessings and promises, we do not need to be afraid. God himself is our protector and our very great reward.

God is our provider. The one who gives us every blessing and reward in life is himself our ultimate reward.

What would you give if you believed you had everything? What investments have you made in your eternal future?

As followers of Jesus, as his beloved children, we have access to the everything that God has in store for us. We have access to everything of the kingdom of God.

In Luke’s gospel account, Jesus said to his disciples, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32, ESV).

Because God desires to give us his kingdom at his good pleasure, we should not be afraid for how we live our lives or how we pour ourselves out for others in generous living.

What is the purpose of the work you do? Is there meaning in the mundane and the profound tasks that you accomplish each and every day?

Our lives have purpose and meaning. Each and every thing that we do should bring honor and glory to God. From the littlest of tasks to the most profound of our undertakings, we are working to the purposes, to the plan, and to the glory of God.

The Apostle Paul wrote the church in Corinth encouraging them to glorify God in all they do, including their work. Paul wrote, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV).