Put to death

 

Death Where Is Your Sting – Cory Asbury

 

I have been challenged by the Kingdom of God for some time now and just recently decided to sell everything I have to buy the field with hidden treasure which means I will have to put to death those things that are stopping me from doing that. Colossians challenges me to do that this morning.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. – Colossians 3:5  ESV

Earthly things need to be let go and Paul lists a few key characteristics just so we know what he is getting at. It is part of my body that I need to let go for it is stopping me from being the disciple I need to be. It is the reflection of how my mind, desires and body all affect my spiritual life.

It does not surprise me that the antidote is love.

 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  – Colossians 3:14  ESV

Unimaginable amounts of love, mercy and kindness for without this all else is nothing. It is only here, in the essence of love can I really exercise true sympathy, real kindness, undisguised humility and submissiveness, patience, self-control and hearty forgiveness. Even as I write these descriptions it would seem easier to die to my body than to love like this. This is what people see when they look at me or at least what they should see. It should not matter what I have died from but rather what I have put on as my outer garment.

Then my inside is what keeps me in harmony with other followers of Christ. This is what unites us, knits and cements us together – with one mind and one heart.

Submissiveness is a word I used earlier – the other word that is used is meekness. Unfortunately, men have messed up this word so much that women resent it more than any other word I know. I am not sure how women handle this verse in Colossians. What I do know is that God has never defined the extent of a wife’s submission, nor does it define the limit. It does however define the motive. 

 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. – Colossians 3:18-19  ESV

I believe both husbands and wives are called to submit because it is a character trait that is part of us making a decision to be a disciple of Jesus. It honours God’s word and His authority and by honouring Him it becomes part of my discipleship.

“If a Stoic disciple asked why he should behave in a particular way, his teacher would no doubt tell him that it was ‘fitting’ because it was in conformity with nature. When a Christian … asked the same question, he was told that such behavior was ‘fitting in the Lord’; members of the believing community should live thus for Christ’s sake.”  – Bruce

 

Standard

Being victorious

 

Lauren Daigle – You Say

 

There is a pull back to God’s word and being skilled in it that makes a difference in the life of a disciple. What a witness to be seen as someone who has a trained tongue and a trained ear, possessing words of wisdom because they were taught and instructed by the Lord. Their words reflect a message to others from Him. Those words bring comfort and sustain those who are broken and tired. My ideal role as a disciple is to listen to the Lord. Every morning to listen to God. More than anything I would love to be a support for those who are weary and that only comes through God’s word, not mine. It is a must, as a disciple, to listen to the words of God every day.

I remind myself that a “taught” disciple is a person who has an intimate association with a master having learned what he knows and in my case, that association is with Jesus.

The Lord God has given me
    the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
    him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
    he awakens my ear
    to hear as those who are taught. – Isaiah 50:4  ESV

I love the way that intimacy is shared in this verse – He awakens my ear; He does not awaken me. There is a difference.

Isaiah chapter 50 uses the word limmud – disciple – more than the word “servant” which is used in all of the other songs that Isaiah wrote. I am encouraged to be a listener and a teacher. My teacher is not a person, but rather I am a disciple of God, being obedient to Him. It is my unwavering following that gives me this position of bringing healing with His word.

To be victorious in this role of discipleship, I have God as my helper. He sustains me by talking to me through His word and He gives me the Holy Spirit to preserve my commitment to follow Him. 

Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God. – Isaiah 50:10  ESV

To be victorious is to walk my walk each day and to help others by walking with them.

 

 

Standard

Practical presence of the Trinity

 

Holy, Holy, Holy – Audrey Assad

 

John 14 is a wonderful portrayal of what happens when the Father and the Son and the Spirit come to live in us. I want to count on the practical presence of the Trinity.

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.  Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask me[e] anything in my name, I will do it. – John 14:8-14  ESV

Imagine having your last meal with Jesus and there are many questions. Jesus answers them all. Philip’s question is not so much a question but rather more like a challenge. Is Philip wanting to know God? Does he have a hunger to know God because we are made to know Him and live in right relationship with Him? I know I do, just glad I do not have the need to see God.

“Man is one of your creatures, Lord, and his instinct is to praise you….The thought of you stirs him so deeply that he cannot be content unless he praises you, because you made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you.” –—Augustine, Confessions, trans. R. S. Pine-Coffin (New York: Barnes & Noble, 1992), bk. 1, 1.

There seems to be many who would want to join Philip in seeing God.

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God.

For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.

We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God. – A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (New York: HarperCollins, 1978), 1.

My question is more along the lines of – what is God like? It is one thing to know about God and say all the right words and expressions. It is another thing, more important and more vital – knowing God and being in relationship with Him.

These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. – John 14:25-26  ESV

The Counselor will teach me everything I need to know as a disciple of Jesus. He will also remind me of things that Jesus has taught me. He will lead me into relationship with the Trinity.

 

 

 

 

Standard

Parenting

 

Now that my children are grown and married with one giving us two beautiful grandchildren, I see parenting a little bit differently then when I was going through it myself.  In fact, I am asked often for my opinion (not from my own child 🙂 ) from others on what or how to help their children grow into followers of Christ.  First of all, I tell them to love them with all their might, strength, soul and mind. Love covers a multitude of sins.

I must say that my next thoughts are on discipling them. I believe that is where the heart of parenting lies. It is not saying that the call to discipleship in Matthew is not the prime verse, it is, but it is also to acknowledge others like Ephesians 6:1-4 as guidelines to the same kind of thinking.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Raising my child/grandchildren to be disciples of Christ is what God would desire from me to give to my family – Trinity-displaying, God-glorifying, disciple-making units. I believe the family is a unique place for the development of disciples.

I can see through other scriptures as well that God’s plan for children has been for parents to be the primary disciple makers.

This would be a good time to go back to the definition of discipleship which is a change that happens from the inside. I am not only called to learn the teachings of Jesus, I am called to live them. That is when change happens. It is my understanding  of His word given to me by the Holy Spirit and then having the desire to live it. I actually become tuned to listen to the Holy Spirit. It is His empowerment that enables me to do what I have been asked to do and to resist temptations and to overcome trials.

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18  ESV

We all have different roles – mine today is a grandparent. I believe whatever our role is, it should be a model of how a follower of Christ relates to God. I pray that as I watch others in their roles that I might learn from them how to be a better disciple.

I love the opening line of the passage above – there is not so much a call for physical attributes, but definitely one for spiritual strength. I need to decide which power centre I will be aligning myself with. My primary requirement as a disciple is to cling on tight to the Lord.

 

Standard

Internal improvements

 

It was interesting for me to note the effect Isaiah had on the discipleship of King Hezekiah. More interesting to note the response he had to the spiritual influence of Isaiah almost to the point where they were sincerely one. It looks to me that Hezekiah had an earnest desire, as a devout disciple, to match Isaiah’s insistent attitude of quietness and confidence – that is, a steadfast trust in God alone. That trust in Him meant there were no conversations about aligning Israel with any foreign powers.

What I loved most about Hezekiah was as his internal spiritual strength grew, so did his insight and vision about tomorrow. He quietly prepared for emergencies. He ruled with a mild and just administration which voided any revolt from those he served as king and he took measures to fortify and build up the defense of the capital.

 He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it,[a] and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. – 2 Chronicles 32:5  ESV

He did this long before the Assyrian crisis was imminent. He could not learn his lesson of faith all at once.  Through all the gossip, possible rebellion, and Assyria, he weathered them because Isaiah walked with him. A great model for discipleship.

Standard