Coming to the last study in this series, we hope you have personally responded to the good news from God. Jesus Christ is alive today, and He alone can forgive sins and transform the lives of those who repent and trust Him.

Throughout the pages of John's Gospel we have been reading of men and women whom Christ called personally. There came a time when many of these responded to His call. They trusted Him, began to follow Him and became known as His disciples.

We should like to encourage any who may be feeling that the Christian challenge is too much for them. The cost of discipleship is great, but the loss of the Christ-rejector is greater! Though the standard is high, His divine power has given us all things that we need to attain it.

True Christian discipleship will affect the whole person. The MIND will be informed concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - we shall KNOW Him; the EMOTIONS will be touched as we consider Who He is and what He did for us - we shall LOVE Him; and the WILL is yielded to His control and Lordship - we shall SERVE Him.

There is, then, everything to be gained from following the example of those early Christians who "....turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven.... even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?

The Latin word, from which 'disciple' comes, means 'learner'. A Christian is one who is constantly learning from his Master, that is Christ. As you learn from Him you will become like Him in heart and mind. May you become a faithful disciple.

To help you develop as a Christian, it is necessary for you to know and do certain things. All life needs food to survive and grow, and these things are the spiritual equivalent of physical needs:

READ YOUR BIBLE EACH DAY. This is your spiritual food. Your progress as a Christian will be determined by the amount of time, interest and obedience you give to its teaching. The Bible contains the answers to all the problems you will meet as a Christian, and it has untold wealth for you to explore in your 'faith walk' with Christ.

PRAY EVERY DAY. The cultivation of the quiet time, or the 'creative pause', following your Bible reading each day can become a very precious time indeed. What greater privilege can we have, than to be able to bring everything in our lives to God in prayer. It is only as we learn to do this that we become integrated personalities, fulfilling the purpose of our Creator.

ATTEND YOUR LOCAL CHURCH. The Christian life is not intended to be a 'solo flight'. God is calling His people and setting them in families - local churches. If you don't already attend a place of worship, then make this a matter for special prayer and ask the person who has helped you with these studies to introduce you to several local Christian fellowships.

FROM JOHN'S GOSPEL  -  Read chapter 10 as far as verse 31.

        1. What are the intentions of (a) the True Shepherd and (b) the false shepherd? (Verses 1 to 13)
        2. What does the Good Shepherd give for the sheep? (11)
        3. In what ways does Jesus identify Himself with those who are His sheep? (3)
        4. How do the sheep distinguish between the true and the false shepherd? (27)
        5. What fantastic promise is given to His sheep? (28)
        6. Why did the Jews want to stone Jesus? (30, 31)
 

MEDITATION AFTER STUDY NO. 5 - YOU MEAN IT COSTS NOTHING?

During the 1939 war there were times when more recruits for the Armed Services were needed. Various incentives were employed, such as 'Your country needs you!' Sometimes they were less than honest, like 'See the world, learn a trade' but without mentioning, 'You may get gassed, or you could return lame for life!'

Recruitment in the Lord's service should never descend to such measures. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ could mean we meet opposition, and it will mean our will must become subject to His Lordship. We must face this challenge squarely.

How would you complete this sentence? "For me to live is ________?" (Philippians 1:21)

Remember the rich fool and how he would have answered? Then how should have answered? The Christian life is not 'escapism', as some would think. It is a new quality of life with Christ as the centre. Now look that verse up in the Authorised Version and see how Paul completed it.

In Study No. 3 we thought of turning around; and in Study No. 4 we thought of true faith in Christ.

True repentance for our sins and living faith in our Redeemer will result in genuine discipleship as we follow Him. Study No.5 deals with being a disciple.

Becoming a Christian is not 'easy-believism'. It involves discipleship!
Joseph Hart clearly understood its implications when he wrote the following:

"How strange is the course that a Christian must steer!
How perplexed is the path he must tread!
The hope of his happiness rises from fear
And his life he receives from the dead.

His fairest pretensions must wholly be waived,
And his best resolutions be crossed;
Nor can he expect to be perfectly saved,
Till he finds himself utterly lost.

When all this is done and his heart is assured
Of the total remission of sins;
When his pardon is signed and his peace is procured,
From that moment his conflict begins."

Here is part of one (a hymn by William Cowper) that has warmed my heart each time I have heard it, read it or sung it:

"Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
E'er since by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be - till I die."