Benefits of discipleship

Blessings result from obedient discipleship

Luke 11:28 CJB

But he said, “Far more blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”

See also Pr 8:32; Mt 7:24–25; Jn 13:17; Jn 14:21; Jas 1:25

Joy results from discipleship

John 15:10–11 CJB

If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love—just as I have kept my Father’s commands and stay in his love. I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy be complete.

See also Ps 119:14; Ac 13:52; Ac 16:34 the Philippian jailer; Ro 14:17; Ro 15:13; Ga 5:22 the fruit of the Spirit; Php 1:25; 1 Th 1:6; Heb 10:34; 1 Pe 1:6; 1 Pe 1:8; Jud 24

Peace results from discipleship

John 14:27 CJB

“What I am leaving with you is shalom—I am giving you my shalom. I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened.

See also Nu 6:26; Ps 4:8; Ps 29:11; Ps 37:11; Is 26:3; Mt 11:28–29 Jesus Christ promises rest for the weary; Lk 2:14 the angels’ greeting to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ’s greeting to his disciples when he first appeared to them after his resurrection:

Lk 24:36; Jn 20:19

Jn 16:33; Jn 20:21; Jn 20:26; Ro 2:10; Ro 5:1; Php 4:7; Col 3:15

True happiness results from discipleship

Happiness flows from doing God’s will

Ps 1:1; Ps 119:1–2

See also Ps 94:12; Ps 112:1; Ps 128:1; Pr 29:18

Disciples are truly happy

Matthew 5:3–12 CJB

“How blessed are the poor in spirit! for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “How blessed are those who mourn! for they will be comforted. “How blessed are the meek! for they will inherit the Land! “How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness! for they will be filled. “How blessed are those who show mercy! for they will be shown mercy. “How blessed are the pure in heart! for they will see God. “How blessed are those who make peace! for they will be called sons of God. “How blessed are those who are persecuted because they pursue righteousness! for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “How blessed you are when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of vicious lies about you because you follow me! Rejoice, be glad, because your reward in heaven is great—they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

See also Re 1:3; Re 22:14

Disciples are abundantly recompensed in this life

Mark 10:29–30 CJB

Yeshua said, “Yes! I tell you that there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, who will not receive a hundred times over, now, in the ‘olam hazeh, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and lands—with persecutions!—and in the ‘olam haba, eternal life.

See also Pr 15:16; Pr 16:8; Mt 7:7–11; Jn 8:12; Jn 10:27; Jn 12:26; Ro 8:31–39; 1 Ti 6:6

Disciples are blessed by being united with Jesus Christ in the family of God

Matthew 12:46–50 CJB

He was still speaking to the crowd when his mother and brothers appeared outside, asking to talk with him. But to the one who had informed him he replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Pointing to his talmidim, he said, “Look! Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants, that person is my brother and sister and mother.”

See also Ga 6:10; Eph 2:19; Eph 3:15

Disciples will be blessed with eternal life

Matthew 19:29 CJB

Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times more, and he will obtain eternal life.

See also Mt 25:46; Ro 2:7; Ga 6:8; 1 Jn 1:2; 1 Jn 5:11; 1 Jn 5:13; 1 Jn 5:20

Disciples have the hope of being like Jesus Christ and being with him in heaven

1 John 3:2 CJB

Dear friends, we are God’s children now; and it has not yet been made clear what we will become. We do know that when he appears, we will be like him; because we will see him as he really is.

See also Jn 12:26; Jn 14:3; Ro 8:29; 1 Co 15:49; 2 Pe 1:4