Book Synopsis
The first lesson we learn is that discipleship is a process. It is guaranteed but not automatic. It is a process of development because it takes time under the direction of the disciple, who is Jesus Christ. Now the process is rate multiplied by time equals distance. What does that mean? Some of us have been saved for years yet, we are more immature now than the day we professed salvation. It is not that we haven’t had enough time. It is the fact that we have had no rate of speed. Therefore, we have accomplished no distance of maturing. Some of us have been saved for a shorter time than others yet we have matured further or grown further than the people who have been saved 10 times longer. Why? Because while others took their time, others maximized their rate and covered more distance. You see, If I’m running, and you are walking, you can start out before I do but I will arrive before you do. Even though you had more time, I had a faster rate. Therefore, I covered more distance in a shorter amount of time.
A lot of us want all the benefits of the Christian life but we are not willing to pay the price and the bottom line is, it doesn’t work that way. You can’t have the benefits without a willingness to pay the price. So as not to confuse you, let me interject here that salvation is free, but discipleship (to follow Jesus) costs. Many people unite themselves with the church but then say, don’t ask me to do anything because I’m not willing to pay the price. I just want to be served. No cost. Well, if that is how you think, then you are sadly mistaken
Discipleship is the progressive movement from spiritual immaturity to spiritual maturity. That means growing up in Christ. In Scripture, whenever God wants to explain a spiritual principle, he uses physical examples. Understand that you cannot see the spiritual world. You cannot detect it with your five senses.