p. 9 | Test of Discipleship by D. H. KRESS, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 2, 1915

Test of Discipleship

By D. H. KRESS, M. D.

D. H. KRESS, M. D.

“We have forsaken all, and followed thee.” The very first step in discipleship is the forsaking of all that we possess, whether we have little or much. Jesus said, “Whosoever . . . forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” There are those in the Christian church who have not taken this first step. Many are attempting to drag their fish nets full of fish after them. Perhaps they ease their consciences by the payment of a tithe, by making offerings to missions and sustaining the temple service. All this is good as far as it goes, but it does not go far enough. This alone will not do. The true Christian mariner does not launch out into the deep with his eye on the vanishing shore line.

“Whosoever . . . forsaketh not all that he hath,” cannot take even the first step in discipleship. The very first step is to renounce ownership and accept a stewardship. Peter and James and John had taken this first step. Peter could say, “We have forsaken all, and followed thee.” This is the beginning, not the end, of the Christian life. It is the entrance requirement into the school of Christ. It is useless to talk about the development of a Christlike character without having passed the entrance examination into the school of Christ. The reason why so few church members make advancement in the Christian life is because they have never really entered Christ’s school. They have been unwilling either to count the cost or, having counted the cost, are unwilling to pay the price.