DISCIPLESHIP
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me”
John 10:14 ESV
Follow me
Discipleship is all about following Jesus, learning from his teachings and seeking to become more like him in thoughts, words and actions. To “follow me”, as Jesus commands, involves an ever deepening relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and a growing appreciation for the love he had for his heavenly Father and the love that both the Father and our Lord Jesus have for us.
This is Life Eternal
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me.” His sheep recognize his voice and seek to patiently and lovingly follow his leadership. This takes “follow me” to a new level and gives greater meaning to the concept of “knowing”. Jesus in his prayer to his Father before his trial and crucifixion prayed that his followers “know” the Father and that they “know” he himself. Knowing God, the only true God and knowing Jesus Christ whom the Father has sent is tantamount to eternal life. And so it will be to one who values and nourishes these relationships.
We can become like Christ …
We can become like Christ by following him in the life that he led. By adopting the activities that Jesus himself practiced. Think about the times that he sought out solitude and silence, times he spent in prayer to his heavenly Father, Think about his simple and sacrificial life and his intense study of and concern about his Father’s Word and his ways. Meditate upon his reaching out in service to others, the underprivileged and disadvantaged. We can become like Jesus in character and in power. Paul tells the believers through Timothy that “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
The Disciplines
In the next section on this page we present a few thoughts relative to some of what are called disciplines. They are activities which when followed on a regular basis will lead to spiritual growth. They are activities which help mold and shape our minds to put us in the position that will allow the Father and our Lord Jesus to work with us and help us to accomplish what we cannot accomplish on our own. We do not list all the disciplines but rather the most common that are practiced in Christian communities.
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD …”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV
As part of the discipline of meditation or contemplation we are encouraged to regularly ask the question: “How can we see the Father in His son, our Lord Jesus Christ?”
The Father’s plan and purpose from the beginning required a human being to love Him so much that they would do all to fulfill his expectations. The death of Jesus on the cross demonstrated God’s unfailing love and faithfulness for the humanity that he had created.
Thinking about this and meditating upon God’s love for us and the response of Jesus to the cross helps us to find and appreciate the love we should have for the Father and the Son.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
“That was so… much great fun”
No matter how much we wallow in the mud and find ourselves lost, we have the confidence that “The Lord is Our Shepherd” and we have no need of any other. We can have the confidence that our shepherd will leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the one that is lost until he finds it.
PSALM 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
THE DISCIPLINES
“ … make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”
2 Peter 1:5-7 ESV
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
Prayer needs to begin with the discipline of solitude.
We must seek to find a “quiet place alone” if we are effectively going to talk with God and shut out the disturbances that prevent us from hearing Him. We read about Jesus, “he went up on the mountain by himself to pray” and he “departed to a solitary place and there He prayed”. It takes time to develop the discipline of solitude, but it can deliver us from the slavery of our occupations and preoccupations and help us to hear the voice that makes all things new.
FASTING AND SELF-DENIAL
The way to spiritual growth and dealing with sin itself, both sins of omission and sins of commission.
Self denial and vigorous spiritual exercises are both part of a training program appropriate for the development of body, mind and spirit. However, Paul in his counsel to Timothy states that “while bodily training is of some value ‘training yourself for godliness’ is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
STUDY
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Psalms 119:105 KJV
God spoke to many people over the years of history telling them of his love for them and of His plans for them and for us. Only by reading what has been written and by listening to God can we find out about His plans for us and for the future. Develop the habit of reading the word of God daily. Establish a consistent time, place and pattern. Let dailybiblereader.com help you with this important discipline.
INDWELLING
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
We are taught in the scripture that God and our Lord Jesus are constantly working in our lives to help us grow and change for the better. In times of joy or struggle and trial, we need to remember that God is shaping us into who we are meant to be. May that indwelling help us to live in patience and in peace and in love and unity, one with another. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
SERVICE
(to be added)
“Through [Jesus], then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:15-16).
CELEBRATION AND WORSHIP
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”
Phil 4:4 NLT
Worship and celebration are collective practices within a community or organization. They foster shared beliefs and accountability. We have an innate desire to be with a community where the accumulated forces of an invisible love, joy and peace permeate the activity.