LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS – Mark Spiro

Unfortunately for me, I have seen old men leave the call of being a disciple of Jesus as they chase old men dreams. I have prayed many times asking God that when I reach their age, may I still be found as a disciple of Jesus. There is only one love, one hope, one joy and abiding with Jesus makes them all mine and it means that I desire to abide in Him all of my days. Sometimes such a conviction causes me to think that I need to be unbending, legalistic even, but no, it means that I need to keep growing and deepening my relationship with Him.

What got me thinking about this? I was reading about a disciple named Mnason.

And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge. – Acts 21:16  ESV

He must have been one of the first to respond to the Gospel.   He kept true to growing from his early faith and his faith still was bright as he looked after Paul. His encouragement to me was that whether I have just started to follow Jesus or have done so for many years, I have a confidence of my reward, I have already received victory over the world, and I have seen myself grow in grace and in knowledge of Him. Mnason had purposed in  his heart to be a follower and he held on to that purpose even though he may have put his life in danger to be a friend to Paul.

It reminds me and I am being reminded often of what a disciple means. It means I am a Christian but it is possible to be a Christian and not a disciple.  A Christian is one who responds to the Gospel message but have not initiated a relationship with Jesus where they sit at His feet to learn of Him and to follow Him and who submits to be His disciple. I find myself checking in with these questions – Am I a disciple of Jesus? Have I accepted His discipline, His authority, His lordship over my life and am I learning from Him from day to day?