Tag Archives: discipleship

March 15
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“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.  And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”  (Luke 14:25-27, NIV)

A disciple is a follower.  A disciple aspires to be exactly like his or her teacher.  As Jesus is Truth, we must be scrupulously truthful — and everything else He is, including a cross-bearer.  Anything less is not true discipleship.  Anything else is not obedience.

A disciple is holy.  The disciple’s holiness is measured in the points of similarity to his or her teacher; and in the degree of difference from the “common way” in his or her way of thinking (e. g. love for enemies, blessings for curses, concern for the poor, readiness to reconcile, etc. . .).

Today’s scripture takes us to the bedrock of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus: Holiness, obedience, and cross-bearing.  – Luther

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January 24
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“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’  He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 18:1-4, NIV)

To live in the kingdom of heaven (also called the kingdom of God) is to live under the authority of God.  That is, to obey God, and to have faith in God’s goodness.

As a vestige of our corrupted nature, all of us have a problem with authority.  If we do not, it is because somewhere, sometime, we made a change against our nature.

Today’s scripture reminds us that entrance into the place where God rules requires that we first “change and become like little children.”  A true child is humble, obedient, trusting, inquisitive, and in the moment.  In the kingdom of heaven, the last are first; and the least are the greatest.

The kingdom of heaven is the Christian disciple’s true home.  – Luther

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December 13
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“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.  For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”  (1 John 3:1, NASB)

The scriptures tell us that a pupil is not above his or her teacher.  If the teacher suffers the slings and arrows of ignorant people, the pupil should expect nothing less.

Jesus is God in human flesh, blood, and bone.  He came because God loved the world; but the world did not return His love.  The world preferred its ways to God’s ways.  The world preferred its gods to the one true, living, God.

The evidence of God’s love is the gift to us of His own name.  As His children, we are His heirs; and as His heirs, all that came to Jesus has also been set-aside for you and me.

With this in mind, always live a life worthy of the Name you’ve been given.  Our heavenly Father’s good name may not always be honored on this earth, but the mere whisper of it anywhere in the universe makes available to us every blessing and gift from heaven!  – Luther

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