Interview with a Talmid

Posted on August 25, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters

“So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.”- Luke 18:22-23 (NKJV)

 

The cost of discipleship is no small matter to consider. Since my own deliverance from a lifestyle that never honored God, and my conversion to The Way, I’ve paid some pretty heavy dues. There is a list of those things that I’ve lost, but there’s really not much sense in sharing it because if God wanted those things to remain in my life, He would have allowed them to do so. Some things have definitely received their goodbyes and good riddances from me and as the others disappear from my sight in the rearview mirror, I’d say that, if the bill is gonna come due, then I’d rather settle my account with Jesus than taking a running leap into the lake of fire, but that’s just me.

Given that, it’s my hope that you haven’t come to Christ for the fire insurance policy only, ‘cos that won’t end well for you. However, if you take a look at the passage we see in Luke 9:57-62, we can see that while He was among us, Jesus did conduct an interview for potential disciples or “Talmids” as they were called in the Jewish community. Granted, many of us who did respond to the altar-call, did that with a genuineness of heart but were never really ready for the long haul. Had not God allowed me to get to the end of myself, and instead had interviewed me for the position of Talmid, my response may have been like the rich young ruler.

There are many great benefits in following Christ and the young men (in passage I mentioned from Luke) that encounter Jesus wanted to walk in the dust of this Rabbi. Who wouldn’t? As far as the regular folks were concerned, Jesus was meeting their needs without a problem or some condition placed upon, oh, sorry, there was a condition and it seemed difficult to many, “Follow Me.” When it came time to surrender all and actually take that walk in the dust of Jesus, these young men found their own conditions needed to be met first. That didn’t fly with Jesus.

 

“Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.’” – Luke 9:57

 

It’s funny how everybody wants to be on the team that’s winning but when they find out about the commitment it takes to be a winning team, they’ll start looking for exceptions. Like what we’re seeing in Luke 9:57-62. “I will follow You wherever you go” may seem like a statement containing a total dedication to following Jesus, but as this first interview goes with Jesus, He’ll point out that your personal needs are gonna be cast aside in order to be a Talmid of Christ. So, it looks like you’ll be making a home wherever you can and you’ll be missing a shower or two. Then Jesus will see someone and then say, “Follow Me” but then we’ll read that first vocal response of “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

Now the reply that Jesus shares may seem harsh, after all, how would you feel if the winningest Rabbi in the land has just said to you, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God”? You may be offended at first but the point Jesus is making is, whatever you consider to be your personal responsibilities in life are gonna have to fall by the wayside if you’re truly called to preach the Gospel Good News. And then lastly as Jesus says, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” we see that your own personal desires are to be non-existent. A straight, forward path with Jesus means that looking back for what once was will make you veer of course and be disqualified for Kingdom work.

We can be critical of Peter’s display of his little faith as he began to walk upon the water (Matthew 14:22-33) all we want but are you willing to be as obedient as he was when he challenged Jesus, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” only to have Jesus accept that challenge and says to Peter “Come”? For me, storms, boats, and water are a scenario for disaster but not for those who are obedient to respond to the call first, because they know that Jesus is their life preserver.

So, in closing, let’s consider the words of Psalm 95: 7c-8, “Today, if you will hear His voice: ‘Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness.’”

 

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a child of El Elyon, a son, a husband, and a father. He has an education in Biblical doctrine and is a graduate of The Colony of Mercy, 11/2003. He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net.

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This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. ²⁴ But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. ²⁵ Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:23-25