Are We True Disciples?
Good Morning Friends,
With Christ at the door our fears can be relieved. With Christ at the door we can be freed. For sure we have messed up but because of God’s grace we are not locked in. We can be freed of the guilt of sin and know the truth. And with the truth enter into the Word of Christ. But the challenge is to continue in the Word and abide and trust God. We can be children of God and never yield to Him the depth of allegiance that is the core of true belief. We can receive the word but not live into it. To discern our status I ask today’s question. Are We True Disciples?
Scripture: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,’
Luke 4:18
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.’ They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are indeed doing what your father does.’ They said to him, ‘We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.’
John 8:31-47 (NRSV)
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
John 10:7-10 (NRSV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’
Matthew 28:19-20 (NRSV)
Message: Today we look at some of Jesus’ first and last words of ministry. Today we contemplate the door out of captivity and the door into the promised pasture, the rich glory in the life of Christ. Here the Gospel message is one of freedom….good news of the release of the slaves from sin…the truth about life…the truth about Jesus….the truth about the door into God’s gracious provision. Unfortunately more people today would rather question truth than search after truth as lovers of wisdom. They desire a Savior but not a Lord and Good Shepherd. Why so many stay locked up or even go back to the prideful pain of prison is a mystery. Why so many fail to realize the exclusivity of Jesus’ offer boggles the mind. Too many have trouble with truth that we come to God the Father through Christ the Son. They may for a time be receptive but then become resistant and rebellious even to the point of rejecting Jesus. For too many submitting to grace is difficult. But grace is the very thing that allows us into the presence of God. Recognizing that Jesus is the truth is the key to grace. The relationship between freedom and the truth is the message Jesus brings. He is the sign that says, “We are not locked in but have entered in to the promise.” Here in this relationship we discover we have been set free from guilt…free from death and the fear of accusation. Here we discover we have been called to be free. We no longer must live jealous, angry, fearful, hateful and selfish lives. We are free to love and be loved. As a disciple of Christ we become free indeed… unbound and unburdened in the uncommon freedom of His Grace. To reduce the need of the human soul to “church” is kind of like trying to heal one of cancer with an aspirin. There is nothing wrong with taking an aspirin, it is simply not sufficient. The need of the day is a return to the Biblical truth that it is not about church, heritage, or membership, but is about an ongoing, alive, daily relationship with “Jesus Christ” shared. That is what it means to be a disciple of Christ. And if you are one then you need to be sharing in the process. And that is the truth. Friends, if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, then the prospects of abiding in the Spirit and being
more fruitful in service should
be of great interest to you. The truth of discipleship is that all the reading of the Word will not get you to the intended blessing without the Word becoming flesh in a living and breathing relationship. You have not become a disciple until you are engaged in the process of making disciples. Making disciples is not about a book course you take so much as a life course.
Pray that Satan not outsmart us. Pray we discern the devils deceptions. Pray that we fear only God so that we might not fear anything else. Pray that His perfect love would cast out all our earthly fears bringing us freedom from worry…freedom from hopelessness… freedom from a purposeless life…freedom from condemnation…Pray that, as His disciples, we would avoid the deception of the world and be delivered. Pray we continue to learn. Pray we are committed to the teachings of Christ and the love of others and the bearing of fruit to the glory of God. Pray we are intentional and committed to a long term priority process of helping people relate to God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 