A selection of verses showing some of the challenges of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
The Cambridge Dictionary says that a disciple is " a person who believes in the ideas and principles of someone famous and tries to live the way that person does or did".
The Bible clearly spells out the challenging principles Jesus Christ lived by and the equally challenging way he lived:
44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
23 He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, will save it.
Jesus gives special warning for those who are rich:
23 Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
He makes it clear to his followers that being his disciple will not be easy:
11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
He lifts principles to a new level by saying that the thought is as bad as the deed:
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ 28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
These chapters have links to this theme:
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