 Last week, I wrote about the origin of discipleship. It’s called salvation. My prayer is for everyone to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But I know that’s not the case, so here’s part two of “Discipleship.”
Turns out, I’m not the only one who desires you to be saved. The Bible says God “… desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4 ESV). What’s holding you back? Maybe it’s a voice deep down inside of you that says, “You’re not good enough. You carry on too much. You sneak around too much. You cheat. Lie. Cuss. You’re just not Christian material.” Bull crap. That’s exactly what Satan wants you to think. Here’s the truth: Jesus chooses the unlikely. Let me show you.  This week marks the beginning of a series on discipleship. Why? Because this word holds significant importance. I believe it’s my word for 2019. I’m longing for closer intimacy with Jesus. I’m longing for genuine relationships with other people. My prayer for 2019 is to focus on discipleship instead of merely being known or helpful. I challenge you to join me on this journey. Truth is, Jesus calls us to be His disciples.
What does “discipleship” mean? John Piper says, “It can mean my discipleship, in the sense of my own pattern of following Jesus and trusting him and learning from him… . Or it can mean my activity of helping others be disciples in that sense of learning from him, growing in him.”  There’s a popular quote that simply reads, “See the good.” Makes sense. The world is a messy place. Negativity runs rampant. It’s a good self-help tip. See the good.
But what’s good? That’s kinda relative. For me, it’s black coffee, worship tunes, and a book. Those things make me happy. I’m sure there’s good in your life. I don’t know what it is, but I challenge you to see it. Be thankful for the little blessings. When I communicate, I try to be practical. There are certainly benefits to positive thinking. Don’t forsake seeing the good in your ordinary world. Little things can make a big difference. But I want to focus this popular quote through the lens of God’s Word. |