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Week 2 -
September 17th thru September 23rd
Growing
Through Service - Discipleship
Devotional 2.1
Discipleship is ………..
“By
this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one
another.” John 13:35
The
concept of ‘disciple’ actually predates the time of Christ – the term comes
from a Latin word that literally means ‘pupil.’ Socrates had disciples –
those who followed his teachings told others about his teachings, and tried
to become more like him. So it is with Christian discipleship; we follow
Christ’s teachings, strive to become more like Christ, and tell others about
Him.
When
asked to identify other people, we are often asked if they have any
distinguishing characteristics. The distinguishing characteristic of any
disciple should be love – love for other believers and for the lost. John
tells us that love is what allows other believers, and the world, know that
we are true disciples of Christ. Other devotionals in this series will
focus on discipleship in everyday life, discipleship in harsh conditions,
discipleship that endures, and the costs of discipleship. But the common
theme running through them all is the love of Jesus Christ.
Perhaps
the best way to define discipleship is simply becoming more and more like
Jesus – and perhaps the most important part of becoming more like Jesus is
learning to love as Jesus loves.
***
Growing
Through Service - Discipleship
Devotional 2.2
Discipleship is Enduring
“If
we endure, we shall also reign with Him.” 2 Tim 2: 12a
Being a
disciple for Christ does not mean the believer has a charmed life, or bad
things will never happen. All disciples for Christ experience good and bad
in their lives. It is how we endure during the tough times that we can
experience the deeper meaning of discipleship. Endurance teaches us to lose
the focus on ourselves and gain more dependence on Christ. “If we endure, we
also reign with Him” 2 Tim. 2:12. When we reign with Christ,
we are victorious over the adversity.
Several
years ago when our son was critically injured in an accident, we spent many
days and nights in a hospital out of town. It was during this very
difficult time that we learned that we had a hope and strength given to us
by Christ that non-believers did not possess. We never wore a sign that
identified us as Christians. We didn’t quote scripture or pray loud prayers.
However, after several days, it was clear that our family had “something”
many others did not. As days stretched into weeks in the ICU waiting room,
some of the other patients’ families asked us to pray for their loved ones
and for them. They seemed to know we had something they needed. We value the
experience of being able to be a witness for Christ during this adversity.
For
most of us, being a disciple for Christ is easy when the pathway of our life
is smooth, predictable and comfortable. The test of discipleship is
enduring through the adversities of life.
***
Growing
Through Service - Discipleship
Devotional 2.3
Discipleship in Harsh Situations
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His
prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to
the power of God.” 2 Tim 1:8
For
most of us, serving as a disciple means following the teachings of Jesus in
our lives and relations with family, friends and church family. How about
growing as a disciple in harsh situations, such as in jail or prison,
though? Some believers end up in prison as a result of their own mistakes,
while others accept Christ after they have been incarcerated. How do these
believers and others in such harsh situations, grow as disciples? I asked
several believers to find out.
One
prisoner serving a life sentence said, “Having Christian family and friends
that have gone though hurt, and have gotten through it, helps me when I am
hurting.” Another, serving a 160 year sentence told me, “A Christian isn’t
a true disciple unless he truly believes in God’s promises, no matter where
he is.” The apostle Paul knew about being a disciple in harsh situations
when he wrote to Timothy from his prison cell to “share with me in the
sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.” 2 Tim 1:8
Let’s remember to pray for those disciples who follow the teachings of Jesus
in situations we, hopefully, will never experience.
***
Growing
Through Service - Discipleship
Devotional 2.4
Discipleship in Everyday Life
“And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from
house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.”
Acts 2:46
Each
and every day we Christians have the opportunity to practice discipleship at
home, at work and at leisure. There are many occasions that we are in
direct contact with other people interacting and having to associate with
them throughout the day. Also, when we may not be in direct contact, be
assured that someone is observing our actions and reactions to life’s
circumstances whether we are aware of it or not.
So,
what is discipleship in everyday life? First, we must understand
discipleship. The word disciples literally means learners, but Luke’s
favorite expression was “the believers” and “the brethren” as used in the
Epistles. Thus, in everyday life discipleship would be the act or actions
of Christian believers as they encounter situations and merely live their
lives.
In our
homes, we should nurture our loved ones, showing love and respect while
teaching and practicing Christian beliefs. Unfortunately, for most humans,
seeing is believing. How we respond to life’s challenges and what we say
when we react is heard and observed by our loved ones. We are setting an
example.
At work
and leisure, people are watching and observing our actions. As believers,
we have the opportunity to witness even though we may not come into direct
contact with anyone. Along with our actions, we can take advantage of
conversations with others during the day.
Indirectly by showing a caring, loving, and helping attitude we can minister
to those that we come into contact. Doors can be opened that will allow us
to share Jesus Christ and how He has affected our own personal life. When
the situation arises, show that you care and say a prayer for a specific
need.
Discipleship also involves helping believers grow into mature and devoted
disciples. Seekers become believers, believers become disciples, and
disciples become disciple makers.
Help
believers to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and to provide
practical help for them to understand the Scriptures. As we individually
become more mature Christians, we become empowered to apply Christ’s
teachings to our daily life and ministry, teaching those that are already
believers and those that are seeking the Almighty One.
***
Growing
Through Service - Discipleship
Devotional 2.5
The Cost of Discipleship
“And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My
disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down
first and count the cost …” Luke 14: 27, 28
There
is one thing about discipleship that Christians need to understand:
salvation is free, but discipleship can be very costly. In Luke 14, it
seems that Jesus was trying to discourage the people who were following him
simply because they thought they could benefit from being around Jesus. He
told them that if they wanted to be one of His true disciples, they could
expect to bear a cross, and they need to understand what that will cost
them.
It’s
important to note that he was not talking about His own cross – only Jesus
could bear the center cross on Calvary where He paid for our sins. He was
talking about believers taking up our own crosses. Earlier in Luke Jesus
tells His disciples to expect to take up their own crosses daily. Just as
Jesus was willing to give His life for us, we should be willing to daily
give our lives to Him, as we become more like Him.
One of
the greatest surprises in scripture is that Jesus went to the cross
joyfully! As we become more like Him, we can surrender our will to His, and
joyfully carry our own cross every day. |
