A CLOSER LOOK AT DISCIPLESHIP
Greetings in the name of Jesus:
There are so many things being said about discipleship today, but I believe we need to understand it through God's eyes first. We look at discipleship through the eyes of a Student / Teacher relationship, but I am not so sure after looking through scripture that God views the idea of discipleship in the same way.
Early within the scripture in Exodus 21: 2-6 we find a reference to discipleship as being a servant for life, and in other places like Numbers 31: 27-31 refers to battle tested soldiers being given preference as disciples. This all indicates that there is a price to be paid for being thought of as a disciple more so than simply sitting under the teaching of someone. What I feel it means to God has much more to do with a commitment on our part than we may like to think of. As we begin our journey with Christ as the Lord of our lives in exchange for an eternal life that will far exceed anything that we can think or imagine we must expect changes in our life. While from our own standpoint those changes are taught to be good and pleasing as we seek peace of mind and tranquility of heart, they do not always start of being that. The reason is mostly due to our self will and desire to remain in control of our life.
God looks on our discipleship through Christ as being an adoption process which has a period of transition to it. When we accept the Lordship of Christ and the forgiveness of God's Holy Spirit to live in our life, we also say that we are willing to undergo changes in our attitude toward His will being done in our life. A big part of that is seen in a gradual transformation from who we have always been as a person who has been governed by the desires of self and off this world; into a creature that is governed by love and who is a witness to those around them to how a relationship with God's Son changes our outlook and attitude toward life. This becomes our witness to the world around us to the kind of change that they can expect in themselves when they too come to know Christ as Savior. This is really a marked difference in what we are being told today because in our efforts to tell others about God we have largely forgotten the part about our personal relationship in living for God.
When Jesus speak about this kind of discipleship He points toward being the Salt and the light of the world found in Matthew 5: 13-16. Jesus also speaks about our counting the personal cost to us of living such a life in a world that does not operate in God's favor and love. Matthew 8: 19-20, for we have been forewarned that if we do live for Christ this world will no doubt reject us. A true disciple will show forth the marks of discipline in their life as is stated in the following scriptures: Matthew 10: 24-25 ; 16:25; Luke 14: 23-26; John 8:31 ; 13:35 ; 14:15 and 15:8. This is not all just us giving up those things we have always wanted or liked; it is also receiving in exchange for that kind of love and devotion the fact that by putting Christ first He has promised to take care of us. We are never promised an easy road to travel; in fact for many of us that road has become hard indeed, but for anyone who has chosen and has tested God's grace and favor in life they have found Him to be true in every aspect of His word. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
There are so many things being said about discipleship today, but I believe we need to understand it through God's eyes first. We look at discipleship through the eyes of a Student / Teacher relationship, but I am not so sure after looking through scripture that God views the idea of discipleship in the same way.
Early within the scripture in Exodus 21: 2-6 we find a reference to discipleship as being a servant for life, and in other places like Numbers 31: 27-31 refers to battle tested soldiers being given preference as disciples. This all indicates that there is a price to be paid for being thought of as a disciple more so than simply sitting under the teaching of someone. What I feel it means to God has much more to do with a commitment on our part than we may like to think of. As we begin our journey with Christ as the Lord of our lives in exchange for an eternal life that will far exceed anything that we can think or imagine we must expect changes in our life. While from our own standpoint those changes are taught to be good and pleasing as we seek peace of mind and tranquility of heart, they do not always start of being that. The reason is mostly due to our self will and desire to remain in control of our life.
God looks on our discipleship through Christ as being an adoption process which has a period of transition to it. When we accept the Lordship of Christ and the forgiveness of God's Holy Spirit to live in our life, we also say that we are willing to undergo changes in our attitude toward His will being done in our life. A big part of that is seen in a gradual transformation from who we have always been as a person who has been governed by the desires of self and off this world; into a creature that is governed by love and who is a witness to those around them to how a relationship with God's Son changes our outlook and attitude toward life. This becomes our witness to the world around us to the kind of change that they can expect in themselves when they too come to know Christ as Savior. This is really a marked difference in what we are being told today because in our efforts to tell others about God we have largely forgotten the part about our personal relationship in living for God.
When Jesus speak about this kind of discipleship He points toward being the Salt and the light of the world found in Matthew 5: 13-16. Jesus also speaks about our counting the personal cost to us of living such a life in a world that does not operate in God's favor and love. Matthew 8: 19-20, for we have been forewarned that if we do live for Christ this world will no doubt reject us. A true disciple will show forth the marks of discipline in their life as is stated in the following scriptures: Matthew 10: 24-25 ; 16:25; Luke 14: 23-26; John 8:31 ; 13:35 ; 14:15 and 15:8. This is not all just us giving up those things we have always wanted or liked; it is also receiving in exchange for that kind of love and devotion the fact that by putting Christ first He has promised to take care of us. We are never promised an easy road to travel; in fact for many of us that road has become hard indeed, but for anyone who has chosen and has tested God's grace and favor in life they have found Him to be true in every aspect of His word. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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