- caring for the sick;
- feeding the hungry;
- fighting against evil injustice in many countries; and
- Preaching the message of repentance through medical, educational, social, agricultural and even political ways.
Christian organizations, such as Christian Aid and many others carry on, in modern ways, using modern methods, the mission of the first apostles.
Some Christians have a vocation in priesthood; they sacrifice everything aswell but they also give up the security of a family around them. They preach the word of God and care for the sick. These people have great strength and faith for they also cope with loneliness. They get a spiritual reward which would also help them to stay faithful.
We all have a vocation when we are baptised we are accepted into the Christian community to belong to Gods family. Discipleship operates on different levels, we as children can help by raising money for charity or even just to help the elderly or our parents. In our society today it is a lot harder to show your Christianity for example going to mass and even keeping your pledge, to be able to do this and defend your Christianity in a challenging world shows signs of discipleship.
Parents sacrifice for their children, to care for them and love them. People have to change to suit there lifestyle. If they have a disable child, to take the time and patience to look after them. A Christian marriage is a big sacrament it reflects God, who is love. The love a man for his wife is compared with the love Christ had with his church, so to be true to your marriage shows true discipleship.
The difficulties facing Christians today are, people often do not show through the way they live their lives that they are followers of Jesus. The other difficulties that they face today include peer pressure smoking because they don’t want to be left out of drinking because there friends will fall out with them or just be ‘cool’. They do not imitate the example of Jesus. Today the demands of discipleship are too great for many.
Yet the gospel of Mark is a story of hope and optimism for disciples throughout the ages. The message of Jesus continues today.
By Jason Hughes