Tag Archives: the same

Different

 

It’s Different Now

 

I am constantly reminded that as a disciple of Jesus, I pursue Him passionately. I am committed to being like Him, having the character of Jesus being formed in me. I grow with the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit and His priorities I am engaged in – love God, love people, make disciples.

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. – 1 John 2:6 ESV

I also have learned that being a disciple looks differently for each of us. I have my peculiar arenas and duties as much as those which are common to all.  Like everyone else, I start off being pardoned and walk in fellowship with others with the forgiveness of my sins. As I mature, I receive further advice and instructions. Children, young men and women, fathers and mothers, mature believers – they all receive special instructions.

I am writing to you, little children,
    because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
    because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,
    and the word of God abides in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one. – 1 John 2:12-14 ESV

One thing that is the same – we are all little children of God and we have all been forgiven – love that part for sure.

 

 

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Dignity

 

Dignity is worth that has no substitute. Here are three perspectives I have been looking at that have challenged me.

In the kingdom of ends everything has either a price or a dignity. What has a price can be replaced by something else as its equivalent; what on the other hand is raised above all price and therefore admits of no equivalent has a dignity. – Immanuel Kant

C.S. Lewis describes this in his famous sermon “The Weight of Glory”: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. … Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbor, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat — the glorified and the glorifier, Glory Himself, is truly hidden.”

“The basis upon which Christians can speak to one another is that each knows the other as a sinner, who, with all his human dignity, is lonely and lost if he is not given help.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

If I treat all my relationships exactly the same, I would be failing in the recognition of dignity that they each possess as unique imagers of the Creator.  I am fascinated how Jesus models this kind of relationship with His disciples. I am challenged to disciple like He did – treasuring, valuing and preserving their unique personalities, giftings and identities. An honest look at how Jesus discipled reveals a profound respect for individual dignity.

I am left with this word from Titus and I leave the same for you. Titus brings this close link between deed (action or good works) and word (speech and teachings).

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,  and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. – Titus 2:7-8  ESV

 

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