Tag Archives: is all about

Axiomatic

 

As a parent, I know that I must teach God’s Word and diligently bring it forward as a loving disciple, in a pattern of discipleship, throughout my children’s life.

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will give delight to your heart. – Proverbs 29:17  ESV

As a disciple of God’s wisdom, when I read God’s word, even today, I still come to the place where I know so little in comprehending God. He alone has experienced the breadth of the universe and has harnessed the full power of nature. Has anyone else?

Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
    Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
    Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
    Surely you know!

 Every word of God proves true;
    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. – Proverbs 30:4-5  ESV

There is no other son’s name than Jesus. He has the wisdom and power described here. Jesus has a name describing Him as “Word of God,” and so it is no surprise to find that in the next verse.

I am called on to know God, the One who sometimes shakes my foundations but the One who will not forsake me because I have put my trust in Him. I am called to follow the word of God and put action to His promises.

F.B.Meyer wrote, “What we are is more important than what we say. Our life is our best sermon. If we would expend as much care on the hidden man of the heart as many do on the outer, what lovely characters would result.“

What am I called to do with this wisdom imparted to me? There are eight parables in Matthew 13 and maybe the first and last ones may be the most important. The first one is the Parable of the Sower and here is the last one:

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” – Matthew 13:51-52  ESV

The teaching reflects my responsibility when I am taught what the Kingdom of Heaven is all about. I am a student, teacher and a leader. I feed into the household of faith. I have a rich, inspired storehouse of essential spiritual treasures from which I can draw on to perform what God has called me to do.

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Follow me

 

Casting Crowns – Follow Me

 

The words “Follow Me…” is what discipleship is all about.

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19  ESV

If we were to put a job description together so that a potential disciple or disciple-maker could see what they signed up for, I think these words would describe best what a committed relationship with Jesus looks like. Simply put, I am a person who has made a decision to follow Jesus with my head, am open to being changed by Jesus in my heart and am serving Jesus in mission with my hands.

“We point our people to the definition of a disciple found in the familiar passage
of Matthew 4:19. In this verse, Jesus gives an invitation to His future disciples, who are fishing at the time … we believe that this invitation describes the definition of a disciple and that to follow Jesus will mean a life change at the head, heart, and hands level of our beings.” – Jim Putman

I wrote about this as a guest writer in Sixty-six Books in a Year as a key building block in the life of a disciple and a disciple-maker.

David Platt goes further. He states we actually cannot be a person of such a mission unless we understand our identity as a disciple of Jesus. He believes there are six primary marks from this passage of scripture that identify a disciple – a transformed heart, a transformed mind, transformed affections, a transformed will, transformed relationships and a transformed purpose. Implication – every disciple should be aware of, depend on, and seek to grow in God’s transforming work of making us more like Christ.

When I really come to terms with this, I know it will change and continue to change my life completely. Becoming a disciple of Jesus, and I know it sounds so simple, is obeying His call to follow.

I think it is fair to say that it might be impossible to be a disciple of someone and not end up like that person.

 

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