Tag Archives: discipleship

December 29
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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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December 9
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“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23, NIV)

To be Christian is to be like Christ.

Peter provides two clear, practical, snapshots of what it means to be like Christ: Ignoring insults from the “haters”; and making no threat against the agents of suffering and pain.

According to the scriptures, in his early years as a disciple of Jesus, Peter immediately responded to every insult and vigorously engaged every opponent. Through faithful discipleship over time, however, Peter became less like “Peter,” and more like his master, Jesus.

To grow in maturity as a Christian means to become more and more like Jesus, as in never allowing the devil and his agents to interfere in our relationship with our heavenly Father.  The adversary, the devil, prefers that we “step outside” of God’s promises for our future and His commandments; and he will do all that he can to either provoke or to persuade us to abandon our Father’s will and our Father’s way.  Don’t take the bait!

A measure of our maturity is the degree to which we are willing to entrust ourselves in all things “to him who judges justly.” – Luther

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December 8
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“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?

On the average large American university campus, it would not be uncommon to encounter students who — outwardly — look like the stereotypical poor college student but are, in fact, heirs of family fortunes. It seems not to matter to them whether they are dressed-up or dressed-down, because it doesn’t change the facts of who they are or of their trajectory in life.

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 gave you when He “called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”  – Luther

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