Monday
Commissioned By Jesus
Read Matthew 28:16-20
The call to go into the world! Spread The Good News! Commissioned by Jesus! Some version of the great commission appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and in the Book of Acts, which is the second part of Luke-Acts. In Matthew, Jesus directs the disciples to baptize people of all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Luke, Jesus tells the disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness. In John, Jesus says the disciples will have the Holy Spirit. In Acts, Jesus promises the disciples that the Holy Spirit will inspire them. The most familiar version of the Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:18-20, "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
It is such a great honor for you and me to be witnesses of Christ in our generation. The word witness is used in the courts of law to refer to a testimony of what you exactly saw or experienced. The Apostles were faithful witnesses who greatly impacted their dispensation without the privileges, opportunities and, technologies of our time. Therefore you and I neither have cause nor reason to fail to be effective witness of Christ and impact our generation. (Romans 8:19) declares that all creation is waiting to see the manifestation of the sons of God. We are to manifest Christ in our generation, set the captives free through the message of the cross and minister to the physical needs of our community through our outreach programs.
We may not touch the whole world but we can make a difference one person at a time. Christ began with 12 disciples and his message continues to inspire and transform millions and millions of people across the globe. God richly blesses you when we join with Him and other members of the body to share the love of Christ to the hurting, sick, dying and captive! You Have Been Commissioned!
Tuesday
What Is A Disciple
Read Acts 6:1,2,7; 14:20, 22, 28; 9:10,36; 16:1
Jesus commanded His servants to "make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19). But what is a "disciple"? Have you ever asked yourself what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? What exactly would that involve? Typically, when people hear the word “disciple” they conjure up one of two images: (1) The image of a contemplative, almost philosophical-looking person, usually dressed in a flowing robe, walking around with his hand rubbing his chin contemplating the meaning of some “deep aspect of life”; or (2) what some would call a “religious freak,” willing to do anything, even kill for his or her master. But what does it really mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
The word disciple means one who follows a teaching-a learner. Jesus said that we must abide in His Word; I believe that this not only means to study the Word but we must be imitators and live in the Word. We cannot pass on what we do not know and live. Every believer is to be a disciple and as a disciple we will always be learning. As a believer we are to make disciples, it is not just up to the Pastor or the leaders of the local body, it is commanded of every believer in Christ Jesus. The church cannot grow and do what God has called her to do without disciples. To be a true believer in Jesus Christ you have to be a disciple.
Wednesday
There Is A Cost
Read Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 14:26-36
Is there a cost to follow Jesus? Oh yes indeed, there is. Jesus intentionally put the rich young ruler in a position in which answering the call of God would have made it would be impossible to go back to the ruler’s old life. He was asking him to sever all ties with his past and make an irrevocable decision to follow Christ. The rich young ruler, like many today, seemed to want to try out the call and see if the conditions suited his needs, then decide later whether or not to stay with Jesus. No. There is no real cost to a decision such as that. You risk nothing. Truly following Jesus means risking everything you have and everything that you are.
The cost that Jesus would have us pay to follow Him is to abandon our focus on ourselves and on earthly things. “Go, sell what you have,” He tells the young ruler, “give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” The cost of following Him and becoming like Him is to fix our gaze on heavenly things. That cost is achieved by allowing God to take away the heart we have and replace it with a new heart. A heart that beats for Him! A heart that yearns not for the things of this world, but that yearns for the same things that the Lord yearns for! It means giving up who we are in our sinfulness, and becoming new creatures that exist to serve His purposes, not our own selfish ambitions and desires.
Thursday
Being Jesus’ Disciple
Read Luke 14:25-35
Just because a person was traveling with Jesus, doesn’t mean he wanted to become one of Jesus disciples. And today, just because people attend church doesn’t mean they are following Jesus. Being a disciple assumes that a relationship with Christ exists. Luke 14 teaches us that the essence of being Christ’s disciple is a willingness to give up everything for Him. A disciple claims no rights, and makes no demand. A disciple is totally willing, totally available, totally confident and totally obedient. Jesus wants us to place him above our closest relationships. Can anything be more emotionally difficult to accept than the notion of risking the approval of your family? Even Jesus understood the opposition that can come from family members. Jesus ask; Will you let Me lead your life? Luke 14:27 - Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. The two key words are “cross” and "Me". The cross represents death. Following “ME” refers to who will be determining the direction of your life.
Being a disciple means following Jesus wholeheartedly, Serving God and others companionship and fellowship with God and each other and realizing it is not about us it is about Him and His Kingdom. We’re simply talking about dying to your own plans and giving Jesus credit for knowing how best to use you. One thing true of a person hanging on a cross -- he has made no further plans.
Friday
Always Learning, Always Developing
Read Matthew 5-7
Recently, as many of you know I recently attended a youth leader’s conference and one of the things that is burning in my heart right now is discipleship for our youth and impacting their lives so I have been thinking a lot about being a disciple and what it really means to follow Christ. For me being a disciple of Christ is to try and follow His teachings and try as best I can to live the way He lived. A true disciple follows Christ's teachings and is always learning and developing. We can never come to a place where we say that we have learned all that we can learn; we have all of the knowledge we need. I think that kind of attitude is backwards, maybe it is just me but I have not arrived yet and I know I have a lot more to learn. God is continually working in my life and through that continual working I am learning daily. I learn by what I hear God speaking to me when I read His Word, I learn through my everyday relationship and fellowship with Him. You know if we will just listen He speaks deep inside our hearts. I believe if we want to truly learn about Christ and want to follow Him closely a great place to start is by reading His Word. If you are looking for a place to start, start with the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7. These chapters outline the attitudes and values we should have as Christians and it also talks about how we should relate to God and each other. These chapters have a lot of headings and a short paragraph under each section. You might like to read one section and ask God to help you put that into practice each day.
The Weekender
A true disciple is willing to follow the call, we as believers have been called. Have you answered the call? __________ If not what’s holding you back? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
There are questions every believer must ask themselves:
Where is your loyalty? ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Do you allow Jesus to lead your life? ______________________________________________
Do you understand the cost? ______________________________________________________
Are you willing to pay the cost? ____________________________________________________
When God calls, will you cast down your nets – as some of the disciples did – and follow Him, or will you walk away downhearted as the rich young ruler, unwilling to give all of your heart to Him so that he can give you a new one? ____________________
Who are you influencing? Give examples of being an influence for Jesus: ____________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Are you taking every effort to learn more about God? ________________________________
The challenge read Matthew chapters 5-7. Choose one section and ask God to help you put that into practice each day.
0 comments:
Post a Comment