Tag Archives: discipleship

November 4
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“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  (Hebrews 12:3, NIV)

The antidote for fatigue and discouragement is the life of Jesus.

Because of His spirit within us, we each can be as Jesus was when facing opposition from others.  For example, when reviled (verbally abused) He did not revile in return; He prayed for His enemies; He sought reconciliation with His foes; He remembered that even when the devil and the forces of evil win a battle, it is God who shall win the war.

If you say that you cannot overcome opposition as Jesus did, you are correct — if your only resources are your own.  To succeed as Jesus succeeded, we must follow in His steps.  – Luther

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September 26
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“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”  (Ephesians 4:1-2, NIV)

Live up to your calling.

This is the message from Paul — writing from prison in Rome — to the Christians in Ephesus (a city in modern-day Turkey).

Our calling is the highest of all callings, yet we are instructed to be humble.  Our calling often leads us into the coarsest of situations, yet we are expected to be gentle at all times.  Our calling gives us access to the wisdom of the ages, and the knowledge of the Almighty; yet we are also called to exhibit patience, forbearance, and love.

Are you living up to your calling as a disciple of Jesus?  – Luther

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July 30
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“After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”  (Acts 16:23-25, NIV)

D. L. Moody (1837-1899), the noted 19th Century evangelist, said: “Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian.”

His words are as true today as when Moody spoke them more than 100 years ago; or as they were nearly 2,000 years ago when Paul and Silas were thrown — bloody and sore from a severe beating — into prison, and their feet were put into the stocks. Theirs was a utterly miserable and hopeless situation, but Silas and Paul did not allow an adverse situation to provoke from them an adverse response.  They responded by praying and singing hymns to God!

Then, as now, the world watches the Christian in his or her adversity.  Will he curse or will he bless?  Will she complain or will she encourage?

As Moody said, only one person in 100 will have read the God’s word.  When the other 99 read you — the representative of God nearest to them — what do they learn?  – Luther

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