Discipleship
We are called to make disciples.
Do not allow this Commission to be an omission in your life.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.—Matthew 28:18-20
Remain grounded by staying in God’s Word.
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. —Psalm 1:1-3
There are many times in our lives when we don’t want to be godly. We want to hate, be angry, not forgive, and be outright ugly. We want revenge and show we’re not ‘the one’ to mess around with. We allow our anger to take over and take the lead in our lives, but in these moments, we must set our sights on another way.
When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John, they immediately followed Him (Matthew 4:18-22). There was no concern about what they were doing prior to Jesus’ arrival. They were called by Jesus…and followed.
A bit later in Matthew 8:18-22, a scribe came to Jesus saying He would follow Jesus where ever He sent, but Jesus said, “[t]he foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head (Matthew 8:20).” Jesus’ statement may have been a direct ‘challenge’ for the scribe to accept considering his lifestyle as a scribe. The scribe was not disqualified from following Jesus, but it was something he needed to consider.
A disciple is a person that is conformed into the image of Jesus through careful study and obedience to His life example, commands, and guidance through the Spirit.
Jesus outlines what one must do to be a disciple, how a disciple is identified, and how they are to live. Below is a listing of scriptural references that further outline the preceding sentence. Disciples:
1. Are not forced to follow Jesus (John 6:43-71).
2. Are drawn by the Father (John 6:44).
3. Must hate their father, mother, wife, children, and their own life (Matthew 10:32-39; Luke 14:26-33).
John 9:1-5 – And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
When the disciples saw the blind man, they asked Jesus who sinned, the man or his parents that he was born blind. Though neither sinned, his blindness was purposed to manifest the works of God (via Jesus healing him). Jesus said that He MUST work the works of Him that sent Him. He said these must be done while it is day, for when the night comes, no man can work.
Now, as Jesus declared, He is the light of the world. The life that is in Him is the light of men (John 1:4-9) and all that follows Him will not walk in darkness (evil, sin), but will have the light of life – righteousness, salvation, eternal life (John 8:12).
There will come a time when the night will come and no man can work. This refers to a future period in history, and for our own lives, it will come upon our death or the Lord’s return. Therefore, we must redeem our time by making the most of each moment we have:
1. Grow in Intimacy. This is the most important for us as believers. Our connection with the Lord must be strong and sound…where He is our first source and not people. Learn how to have an intimate relationship with Him. Meditate on the Psalms to witness lives that were dependent upon the Lord (in the good and tough times).
2. Grow in the Word. Allow the Word of God to become your source for all aspects of your life…it is the most important ‘book’ you will ever read. Understand the entire message of the Bible and how each inspired writing ties into the plan of God and your life. Use study resources (i.e. study guides, commentaries, and dictionaries) that do not inject a lot of personal opinion.
As we follow the example of our Lord and Savior, we can glean some insights of discipleship through His interaction with people. There is so much we can learn from our Lord, but I would like to point out few ‘points’ within the context of our discussion.
Jesus allowed people to approach Him with the questions and concerns on their heart. Let’s look at a few examples:
(1) Nicodemus – John 3:1-11
(2) James and John – Mark 10:35-45
(3) The Rich Young Ruler – Mark 10:17-22
(4) The Disciples – Mark 10:23-30
Now, when you read these verses, there are some underlying themes. Jesus was (1) available, accessible, and approachable; (2) allowed others to ask just about any question and make any comment; and (3) responded to each question and concern and raising their level of understanding toward righteousness.
Many coaches look for players that are ‘teachable.’ Teachable players are desired because they accept and follow directions quickly.
Titus 2:11-14 – For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
The grace of God is available to teach us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, but we must be:
1. Willing to accept instructions. 2. Willing to change your behavior (ask God for help as well). 3. Able to execute those instructions.
Remain teachable to allow the Lord to be glorified through your life. He can use some good players on His team (Luke 10:2)!
Photo courtesy of CreationSwap/davidsunnock
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