Discipline is part of discipleship.

God has a plan and a purpose for you in mind. He has a destination that He wants to take you to. He wants to change you into the image of His son – Jesus Christ. He is in the life change business. You have a choice. You can fight against the process – you can sit back and do nothing – or you can work together with Him in the process of becoming more Godly – of becoming more like Jesus. It takes work – it takes effort – it takes discipline. Remember what Paul told Timothy? “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” (1st Timothy 4:7)

Check out this portion of scripture: John 1:35-51 (NKJV)"Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”The two disciples heard him s peak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone). The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”  And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

God can find that which is lost. He can fix that which is broken. He can mend that which is torn. He can straighten that which is bent. He can buff out the scratches. He can clothe the naked. He can feed the hungry. He can give water to the thirsty. He can bring dry bones back to life. He can take a heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. He can change a person’s life! That is what He does. God is in the life change business – and He is good at it. If you give your life to Him – if you place yourself in His hands – if you decide to follow Him – if you discipline yourself in discipleship – God will change you. That is the power of discipleship – that is the power of God! The saying is true - God loves you just the way you are – but He loves you too much to leave you that way. God can take a lump of clay and make it into a work of art. He can take a painting and make it into a masterpiece. He can take whatever you offer Him and change it into something beautiful. That is what God does. He is in the life change business.

If we want to see things, few see--then we must follow where few will be lead.It takes discipline to be a disciple.