All in Discipleship
He and his wife had thousands of children.
Let me clarify: They never raised biological children, but during his over 50 years of serving in the student ministry at my home church, he fathered a multitude, including myself. Today hundreds will gather to celebrate his life.
Once we take our first steps, we usually don’t think much about how we walk, unless we are hurt. We just get up and go. But what about our spiritual walk? It benefits us to take an assessment periodically.
Ever tried to do something really difficult? Maybe take a few steps to get it done. Survey the necessary course of action, but never quite take it?
Biscuit, our dog, looks for a lap when we sit down. He is on the floor beside our feet when a lap is unavailable. He anticipates a ride in the car when he hears keys jingling. He follows us outdoors. He barks and spins in circles of excitement when invited to go for a walk. While in bed, he snuggles as close between us as he can. He cuddles with me in the sunroom every morning for quiet time with God.
Fast forward to the last week of Jesus’ life. There was always a hustle and bustle to Passover week. But this year the Teacher had drawn crowds when He made His triumphal entry into the city on Sunday. On one hand the people were hanging on His words. On the other the religious leaders were trying to entrap Him to ultimately have Him arrested and crucified as an enemy of Rome.
Each snowflake that falls from the sky is a tiny, intricate marvel —no two exactly alike in their crystalline patterns. In the same way, God has created each of us as unique individuals, imparted with our own special combination of spiritual gifts.
We believers are to be the fragrance of Christ in this world. As you and I are filled with the Spirit, His fragrance flows through our words and actions. Is the fragrance of Christ permeating the world through you? Are you so filled with the Spirit of Christ, that His fragrance can’t help but flow from you?
When I was young, our family was driving through the beautiful mountains of Colorado. It was my first time to see it. As I looked out the car window, amazed at what I saw, I asked my mom, “is this heaven?”
How easily we can slip into outright sin and its entanglements. Tie on your godly truths securely; or like your dangling shoelaces, the ways of the world will trip you up. Sir Walter Scott's quote may possibly encompass all the devil desires from us: “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." Deception could be the root of all evil. The serpent in the garden used that ploy, and look at the sin that entangled us all.
We cannot allow the embarrassment of discovering the garbage we have keep us from seeking cleanliness and purity. The work may take quite a while, but will render nothing but reward.
Yesterday Paul left me contemplating the vice grip of self and the need to put to death—to mortify—my earthly nature. And today, his solution—change my wardrobe? Hmm.
All dressed up in your virtues? Looking for the perfect place to go to shower love on everyone? Look no further than your daily routines. Wherever you go, you live worthy of the Lord by working at whatever you do with all your heart. Now isn’t that just too simple?
In a race, passing of the baton is interesting to watch. When done well, it can look effortless and smooth.
In Scripture, this passing of the baton also happened… but from a father to a son.
My mind holds vivid memories of being dragged to go shopping as a child, often and with various members of my family. Clothes and malls weren’t my thing back then, but I did enjoy plant nurseries—perusing through aisles of God’s creations, seeing the variety in shapes and colors, brushing my fingers along the—ouch! Cacti.
Friends, “churchy” talk is easy; but having the courage to live as a Disciple of Christ requires careful examination of one’s lifestyle.
In the understanding of many, we enter the Kingdom of God only when we enter Heaven.
However, the Bible teaches Christ followers that Jesus sent us out to proclaim the kingdom of God in the world NOW.
This is not the first time Jesus filled the nets of the fishermen. On the first occasion Simon Peter was so astounded he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8). It had dawned on him who Jesus really was. Then he, Andrew, James, and John promptly left their nets to fish for men.
Ah, January—I love Januarys. Januarys beckon me to step back and consider the old year. I transpose my Canadian memories of crisp snowfalls to cover the muddy paths I’ve been over. I cry to the Lord: wash me, and I will be whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7). But then Januarys urge me on to chase the new with vigor: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).
The human brain fascinates me. I observed its development as my babies learned to talk, walk and eventually drive away. Oswald Chambers' quote recently challenged me to consider the brain from a new perspective:
“God does not give us the mind of Christ. He gives us the Spirit of Christ, and we have to see that the Spirit of Christ in us works through our brains in contact with actual life and that we form His mind.” *
Yes, Elijah’s greatest fear may have been of being the only one of God’s prophets left, alone and without help. However, God had a much more penetrating question of His prophet. Not once but twice He asked: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (19:9,13). Incredible, isn’t it, that the LORD‘s charge to Elijah should occur on that very same mountain where He had spoken to Moses in the burning bush and given him the Law (Exodus 3:1-3;19:9,16)?
