discipleship

What do you know?

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1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.  John 13:1

Sometimes we find what we know or don’t know to be paralyzing when it comes to decision making. Jesus kept an enlarged view of life that included eternity. But it wasn’t just that he knew what was ahead (Judas’ betrayal, the cross, the disciples scattering), he knew WHO was ahead. He knew He was returning to the Father. And this knowledge fuelled His service and His love.

These verses introduce the Upper Room dinner and discourse Jesus had with the disciples before His crucifixion. What an extraordinary evening! In the next moment in John 13 we see Jesus taking the servant’s role and washing the disciples’ feet.

When you are under stress what knowledge dominates your life? 

The knowledge that you are out of time? That you are under appreciated? That you deserve better treatment? That you have an enemy? That there’s possible conflict behind “that door?”

Or

The knowledge of your relationship with Jesus? The knowledge of the Father’s love for you? The knowledge of the greater vision of where you and your coworkers, friends and family are headed?

Under great stress the first thing likely to go for us if we are not being trained by our troubles in faith is our awareness of the Father’s great love. Servanthood and love will go soon too.

So, where are you headed? Its not just a question of destination. Its a question of who. Jesus is our destination! Its His character through these life stresses that the Spirit desires to form in us.

 

Who’s in charge of your agenda?

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23And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

You are of course.

My kids have had “agendas” provided them since elementary school. Its the school’s way of providing them with the skills to be in charge of their lives. We all have responsibilities. When the teacher provides information about what is coming up and what the student is responsibility for, it goes into the agenda. For my Grade 5 student I get to sign off daily. For my high-schoolers, its all up to them. (Well I keep asking too.)

The Christ-centered life is one in which we are choosing to daily take our Agenda and put it in front of Jesus. Because of His grace towards us we take his description of life with Him seriously. He says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

So we say, “Here’s my life today Lord. Here’s what I have to do today. Thank you for it. You have given it to me. I pray that you would be honoured in it. I pray that you would help me with it. I pray that you would be with me in it. I’m only going to go into it with you. Not my will, but your will be done. Show me where you are working and I will join you there in the mission of loving people and sharing your Gospel word and life. Lord this day, may it be about you.”

When are you quiet?

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25The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

28Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;

Lamentations 3:25-28

Jeremiah is lamenting. But his lament is not without hope. He affirms the faithfulness and mercy of God towards His people.

Wisdom will not be gained with many words.

Wisdom will not be gained with persistent inattention to the matters of your soul.

Wisdom will be gained in quiet.

When we find ourselves under the weight of life and God’s hand how squirmy we become. When are you quiet?

Really, when are you quiet?

What are your patterns of quiet?

When do you exercise the discipline of turning down the chatter of the world, and tuning in to the chatter of your mind, in order to quiet yourself before the Lord Jesus?

 

Showing Off

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39You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.   John 5:39-40

We don’t memorize the Scripture in order to show off. Rather we memorize the Scripture because it bears witness to Jesus. It leads us to Him. Its voice, which is His voice, speaks to us calling us to come to Jesus. “Come to Jesus” that’s the call of the Scripture. Jesus said so Himself. Knowledge does not give us the Kingdom life; Jesus does.

When it comes to memorizing the Word that bears witness to Jesus here’s some suggestions:

1. Write it; say it; sing it.

2. Review it, review it, review it.

3. Meditate on it. Take time to meet Jesus in the words and see the many varied ways the Word of God merges with our lives.

4. Oh yeah and the secret of Scripture memory: review, review, review.

My Resolution Dilemma Caused by the Gospel

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Live the Yes! 2014

20For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.  2 Corinthians 1:20-22

Dilemma: Goals or Resolutions or Not at all?

Some of my friends are resolved in 2014 to not make resolutions.  They make goals instead.  And then there’s the crowd that’s resolved not even to make a goal!  The benefit of setting goals is well-studied.  Make them, break them down, and set out on a path of improvement. I’m all for it.

The New Vision Created by The Gospel

But the Gospel does not begin with a vision of self-improvement. The Gospel begins with a vision of Jesus showing us who God is.  God does not start with a vision of making us better.  God starts with a vision of Jesus glorified in our lives and in all creation.  God’s word for us is not one of self-perfecting in order to gain presence and peace. His Word is life through His Son. So now even the promises of God find their “Yes,” their possibility, their fulfilment, in Jesus.

And now through Him we can say “Yes” or “Amen” for His glory with not just our mouth but also our very lives. He has made it possible through the work of the Cross and the gift of His Spirit. I believe the apostles were saturated with the Gospel reality expressed in 2 Corinthians 1:20-22.

For His Glory

So my dilemma. Its the New Year. Its time to declare my resolve and make some goals. The Gospel sets me on a path of growth, not in order “to get God to like me,” that would be religion. The Gospel sets me on a path of growth for the glory of Jesus in my life. Now my desire for each year is that somehow by His grace I would be like Jesus in character, attitude and action. Now I trust Him, that even in my weaknesses the greatness of Jesus will be displayed.

Goal: this speaks to my effort to achieve. I will make bite sized goals about every six to nine weeks.

Resolution: this speaks to the over-arching desire of my heart.

Live the Yes

I am making a resolution for 2014: Live the Yes.

By the grace and power of God keep saying “Yes” to Jesus.

What’s your resolution for 2014?