Tag Archives: appeal

Romans 12 Disciple

 

In Christ There Is No East Or West

 

I do not really know of a Romans 12 disciple – never met someone fully surrendered, transformed and passionate about things that are passionate with Jesus. I read this chapter and I see a fully authentic disciple on display having developed a caring concern and having a genuine love for others. They do this simply by modelling Jesus – His attitudes and behaviour. This chapter defines for me what discipleship really looks like. I believe that it is challenging me to get out of the box of traditional thinking and discover new ways to communicate God’s Word and His love to a culture that has become more hostile.

Jesus puts it to me quite simply – follow Me.  I read a lot of books where authors are trying to explain discipleship – probably because the Church has never been very good at it.

From the beginning with the twelve until now it would seem there are difficulties in actually following Jesus. I will use the “we” word for this sentence, it sounds better – we do not live like Jesus, we do not love like Jesus and we do not make disciples like Jesus.

I wonder if it has to do with the transformation of our minds. 

 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c]but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:1-2  ESV

At least I know there is my part and not only God’s part in all of this. I am responsible to present myself. I am already acceptable because of God’s grace so now all need to do is present myself – and lose control – so that I can worship and honour Him. Presenting includes attitudes, desires, my past and future, and everything I am. God takes me and disconforms me, if you will, from my deadness. Then He transforms me into His likeness. This is the only way I can discover His purpose and will for my life.  That is some kind of disciple.

 

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To hear and see

 

Do You Hear What I Hear?

 

Our ability to hear and see is our gateway to wisdom.

The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the Lord has made them both. – Proverbs 20:12  ESV

So when I hear the invitation from Jesus to come to Him, what does that mean to me?

 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28  ESV

It is a strong appeal. It leaves no doubt to the sincerity of the call to turn from whatever I am presently leaning on to depending on Him.

In many ways, it is still a call to believe in Him, follow Him, and be a committed disciple – to completely turn my life over to Him.

It is a call to an intimacy of fellowship. My walk with God is all about my personal relationship with Him.

So I hear the call, what do I see?

 

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