DISCIPLESHIP… IS A PROCESS

“Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, ‘You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”  (John 8:31-32 NLT)

By definition, a disciple is a follower, one who accepts and assists in spreading the teachings of a Master. A Christian disciple is a person who accepts and assists in the spreading of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in faith and are equipped by the Holy Spirit for ministry. This process requires believers to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to examine their thoughts, words and actions and compare them with the Word of God. This requires that we read, study and apply biblical teachings; pray regularly; participate in worship and fellowship with other believers; and reach out in witness and mission sharing the love of Christ in word and deed. 

-- From “Got Questions Ministries” 

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THE MAGI’S RESPONSE

“After [the Magi] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts…” (Matthew 2:9-11 NIV)

They bowed down and worshipped Him. The Magi chose not to resist, not to ignore, but to worship. In fact, they had been choosing to worship Jesus ever since they saw that star in the east and started their trek towards Jerusalem and then the short distance on to Bethlehem. They’d been worshipping Him by giving Him their time, by giving Him their energy and, finally, by giving Him their wealth. That’s what worship is – giving your all, your life, to Jesus as you put your wallet, your calendar and your mind at His disposal.

These Magi knew the King of the Jews had been born. They sensed He was the divine Shepard-Ruler. They had a decision to make. Resist or ignore Jesus, or worship Him? Resist or ignore Jesus, or let Him be the Captain of their fates and the Master of their souls, and discover lasting strength security, and peace, on into eternity and death?

They worshipped Him.

And they found joy -- heart-swelling, deep down, spring-in-your-step joy… The Magi finish the first Christmas heading home, back to normality, with a new meaning and a new feeling – with joy that lasts, and that will never end. 

-- Carl Laferton in “Rescuing Christmas: The Search for Joy that Lasts”

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THE FREEDOM IN CHRIST

“I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 6:19-23 NIV)

There are two freedoms -- the false, where a man is free to do what he likes, and that leads to death; the true, where he is free to do what he ought, and that leads to life. 

-- Adapted from Charles Kingsley

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FRIENDS OF JESUS

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15 NIV)

In the middle of His last instructions to His disciples before He was betrayed, tried, and crucified, Jesus explained that they should see themselves as His friends, not as His servants. It was an important distinction. Good servants work hard for the master and are loyal and faithful. But they don’t ask why. They aren’t privileged to know the master’s plans, reasons, and motives. They simply obey.

Friends, however, enjoy a close relationship. They share experiences and information. They know each other well, and they move together in the same direction. Jesus had revealed to these men all that He had learned from His Father. They truly were His friends.

Twenty centuries later, we who name Christ as Savior also stand as His friends. He has given us the Bible, His written Word, to study and apply and the Holy Spirit to teach us (John 14:26). We can know the Master’s business.

When you don’t know which way to turn, ask God. He will answer because Jesus is your friend. When you feel all alone, turn your thoughts homeward, remembering that Jesus is your friend. He’s here when you need Him. 

-- Dave Veerman, as quoted in “His Passion: Christ’s Journey to the Resurrection”

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SURRENDER BRINGS POWER

“Before the Lord we bow,
The God who reigns above,
And rules the world below,
Boundless in power and love;
Our thanks we bring
In joy and praise,
Our hearts we raise
To heaven's high King.”  (Francis Scott Key)

When we are contrite, when we are submitting, we kneel, expressing with our bodies what is in our hearts. When a subject comes before his king, what does he do to humble himself? He kneels to acknowledge that he is in the presence of his master. When a believer in any religion comes to pray to his God, what does he do? He kneels to acknowledge that he is in the presence of his master. When a man asks a woman to become his wife, what does he do? He gets down on one knee to acknowledge… well, you get the idea.

Bent low in surrender. Jesus understood that if you want to experience victory, you must start in surrender. Surrender brings power, and the need to surrender is deeply tied to Jesus’ offer of living in the flow of the Spirit. You receive power through the act of surrender that you cannot obtain any other way; you receive freedom through submission that you will otherwise never know. 

-- Adapted from John Ortberg in “The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God’s Best Version of You”

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LISTENING TO THE MASTER

Joshua Bell is perhaps the world’s finest violinist.  His parents knew he was something special when he was only four years old and he stretched rubber bands to his dresser drawers and played classical tunes on them, adjusting their pitch by pulling the drawers in and out.

As an experiment in 2012, he played -- unannounced -- in a metro station in Washington DC.  The people who conducted this experiment were warned by experts that a crowd would certainly gather; they might need extra security.  Surely many people would flock to this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Joshua Bell brought his 1713 Stradivarius violin -- which cost millions of dollars -- and began to play the six most beautiful songs in his repertoire.  The world’s greatest violinist playing the world’s greatest music on the world’s greatest instrument.

But no one stopped.  A thousand people walked by.  You can see it on video.  Children would tug on their parents’ sleeves, but the adults were too preoccupied.  One woman alone recognized him and stopped to listen.  She gave him a bigger tip (twenty dollars) than the other thousand people put together.  They were in a hurry, hurrying past Joshua Bell because they had other things to do.

Jesus said, “To what can I compare this generation?... We played the flute for you, and you did not dance.” (Matthew 11:16-17)

The Master is still playing, but listening is optional.  Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. 

-- John Ortberg in “The Me I Want To Be: Becoming the Best Version of You” 

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REDISCOVERING THE REAL CHRIST

We need to forget the imagery of the Christ who has been ours too long and to rediscover the real Christ, the Christ of the prophets and the martyrs and the confessors, the Christ who is not only the lover of souls but also master, a monarch with demands to make in industry, in finance, in education, in the arts, in marriage, in the home; the Christ who is teacher of a social ideology which has eternal validity; the Christ who cries aloud with convincing force, "For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35). 

-- Bernard Iddings Bell (1886-1958) in “Still Shine the Stars” 

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YOKED TO CHRIST

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV).

The physical yoke is not a part of the daily life of most of us, but we can call up the mental rural image of two beasts of burden, yoked together, pulling their common load. The yoke is a wooden structure that is designed to compel the two animals to work as a team. When they cooperate with each other, the task is easier for both; but if one holds back or tries to turn in a different direction, the yoke places undue pressure on its neck. Obviously, the burden is easier and lighter when they work together.

So it is also with our faith. To accept Jesus as Lord and Savior is like being yoked to Him. In that union of faith, we listen to our Lord. We learn by being exposed to what the teacher is teaching. We show that we have learned from the Master Teacher when we take His instructions for life and put them into practice. This all begins when we profess our willingness to walk with and be yoked to Jesus. 

-- Rev. Kenneth A. Mortonson in “What Do You See?” 

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GOD’S FAVORITE NAME

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  (Galatians 4:4-6 NRSV)

Of all His names, Father is God’s favorite. We know He loves this name most because this is the one He used most. While on earth, Jesus called God “Father” over two hundred times. In His first recorded words Jesus explained, “Didn’t you know that I must be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). In His final triumphant prayer He proclaims, “Father, I give You My life” (Luke 23:46). In the Gospel of John alone, Jesus repeats this name 156 times. God loves to be called Father. After all, didn’t Jesus teach us to begin our prayer with the phrase, “Our Abba”?

"Abba” was, to Jesus, an everyday word, and remains so to Israel’s children even today. It is an affectionate, family word. The equivalent would be Poppa, Daddy or Dad. It is right for you to call God your Creator; indeed He is. You speak truth when you call Him your Master; indeed He is. It is appropriate for you to call Him your King, Lord and Sovereign God. But if you want to touch His heart, call Him by the name He loves to hear. Call Him “Abba.” Call Him your “Father.” 

-- Max Lucado

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THE KING OF KINGS

“Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

"And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV)

Most of us are familiar with these memorable words. They are the best promise of security in a world of tension and turmoil. If you want to have peace with God and find security for these times of trouble, you must answer one important question: Who Is the Ruler of Your Life?

Are you trying to be the master of your own fate? Are you trying to be the captain of your own soul? Do you believe that you can navigate life's storms without the Master at the helm?

Or is the Kingdom of God within you? The King of kings is the hope of every man, woman and child of every nation, and His Kingdom is forever. 

-- Adapted from Billy Graham

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WHEN JESUS IS LORD

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.”  (1 Corinthians 8:5-6 NIV)

Make no mistake: if Jesus is not Lord of our lives, someone or something else will be. Jesus taught, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24 NIV) By the same token, you cannot serve God and politics. You cannot serve God and sex. You cannot serve God and work.  Yes, you can participate in politics, you can have a healthy and righteous sex life, and you can strive to succeed at work. Only one, though, may truly have dominion over your life… You can only have one highest priority. You can only have one lord, and of the many lords from which we may choose, only Jesus brings us true peace, a heart in line with God’s heart, and eternal life.

For Jesus to be Lord of our lives, we must offer Him three things: our obedience, our trust, and our love. Anything less, and we are denying Him His rightful place as Lord. 

-- David Watson in “A Firm Foundation”

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CHRIST THE WORD

"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

Let us serve Him faithfully as our Master. Let us obey Him loyally as our King. Let us study His teachings as our Prophet. Let us work diligently after Him as our Example. Let us look anxiously for Him as our coming Redeemer of body as well as soul.

But above all let us prize Him as our Sacrifice, and rest our whole weight on His death as atonement for sin. Let His blood be more precious in our eyes every year we live. Whatever else we glory in about Christ, let us glory above all things in His cross.

-- J.C. Ryle

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TAKE THE TIME

“Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy… Christ suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all -- was put to death and then made alive -- to bring us to God.”  (Excerpts from 1 Peter 3:15-18 The Message)

We can choke God’s Word with a yawn; we can hinder the time spent with God by remembering we have other things to do. “I haven’t time!” Of course you have time! Take time, strangle some other interests and make time to realize that the center of power in your life is the Lord Jesus Christ and His atonement. 

-- Oswald Chambers


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SPILLING OUT

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!"  (Philippians 4:4 NLT)

Philippians is Paul's happiest letter. And the happiness is infectious. Before we've read a dozen lines, we begin to feel the joy ourselves -- the dance of words and the exclamations of delight have a way of getting inside us. But happiness is not a word we can understand by looking it up in the dictionary. In fact, none of the qualities of the Christian life can be learned out of a book. Something more like apprenticeship is required, being around someone who out of years of devoted discipline shows us, by his or her entire behavior, what it is. Moments of verbal instruction will certainly occur, but mostly an apprentice acquires skill by daily and intimate association with a 'master,' picking up subtle but absolutely essential things, such as timing and rhythm and 'touch.'

When we read what Paul wrote to the Christian believers in the city of Philippi, we find ourselves in the company of just such a master. Paul doesn't tell us that we can be happy, or how to be happy. He is simply and unmistakably happy. None of his circumstances contribute to his joy: He wrote from a jail cell, his work under attack by competitors, and after twenty years or so of hard travelling in the service of Jesus, he was tired and would have welcomed some relief. But circumstances are incidental compared to the life of Jesus, the Messiah, that Paul experiences from the inside. For it is a life that not only happened at a certain point in history, but continues to happen, spilling out into the lives of those who receive Him, and then continues to spill out all over the place. Christ is, among much else, the revelation that God cannot be contained or hoarded. It is this 'spilling out' quality of Christ's life that accounts for the happiness of Christians, for joy is life in excess, the overflow of what cannot be contained within any one person.

-- Eugene Peterson's introduction to the book of Philippians in The Message

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