Tag Archives: discipleship

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  (1 Peter 2:9, NIV)

As a disciple of Jesus, do you think of yourself as chosen?  Do you see yourself as a member of a royal priesthood; an intercessor between man and God?  Do you consider yourself a citizen of a holy nation?  To whom do you belong; are you God’s special possession?

When I was in university, it was not uncommon to encounter students who — outwardly — looked like the stereotypical poor college student but were, in fact, heirs of family fortunes.  It didn’t seem to matter to them whether they dressed-up or dressed-down, because it didn’t change the fact of who they were or their destiny.

Peter’s words remind us of how God sees everyone — repeat — everyone who claims His name.  Don’t sell yourself short, and remain mindful of the great gift God has given you today.  – Luther

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“But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.  To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”  (1 Peter 2:20b-21, NIV)

To “follow in his steps” means going wherever He may go, even into the crucible of personal suffering for doing good.

Because He has left us “an example,” it means doing as He has done: Enduring suffering for God’s glory.

To imitate Jesus is our calling!  It may be the only glimpse of Christ at work through suffering that some of your neighbors, co-workers, family members, and friends see today.  – Luther

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“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”   (1 Corinthians 9: 24-27, NIV)
Excellence, discipline, and humility.
We admire these three qualities in any athlete.  Likewise, these three qualities together are essential for faithful discipleship.
Are we living our lives — every hour of every day — “in such a way as to get the prize,” which is life in all of its fullness and length?  Are we engaged in the private, hidden, work of “training”– in the words of Paul to his protege Timothy: “to study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”?  (2 Timothy 2:15)
Paul’s words remind us to aspire to excellence in all that we do.  He reminds us to adopt the discipline of “strict training” so that we will be prepared for any of the so-called surprises of life, and fit to finish the course.  He reminds us to be humble, lest we ourselves are disqualified as the price of our pride.
Excellence + Discipline + Humility = Faithful discipleship.  – Luther
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