Whose Disciple are You?

Whose Disciple Are You? That is a question we should all ask ourselves.

A disciple is a student who not only learns from a teacher but also seeks to live out what is learned. The Pharisees had disciples. John the Baptist had disciples. And, of course, Jesus had them, both those He called to follow Him, and others who chose on their own to follow Him for a time until they no longer liked what He was teaching.

Many of us call ourselves Christians which implies we identify ourselves with Christ, But how much time do we actually spend learning what what Jesus wants His followers to know and do?

Matthew 28:16-20  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.   (17)  And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.  (18)  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20)  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Jesus said to make disciples and teach them to observe all that He had commanded them. That is what disciples are supposed to do. Learning a little about Jesus is not the same as learning to observe all that He commanded. To do that takes time and diligent effort.

How much time do you and I spend learning what Jesus wants us to know and do? Is it an hour or so in church once a week and maybe a handful of minutes on the other days of the week?

Another question to should ask ourselves is how much time do we spend watching TV, movies, and reading printed and online materials for entertainment purposes. How expert do we become and playing games, socializing, and learning how to tell jokes, or interesting stories or news items? Are we more disciples of those things than we are of Jesus?

And when we do learn what is called Christian things from books or other media, do we check Scripture carefully to make sure they line up with what is actually inspired by the Spirit of God? Or do we allow ourselves to become disciples of false teachers because what they say tickles our ears?

I want to do better at being a disciple of Jesus Christ. I know Christ is ready and willing to help each of us do that. I believe that is why He concluded His commission to those 11 disciples who were to go out and make disciples of all nations with the promise that He would be with them always, to the end of the age.

The gift of faith that God gives us in the finished work of Christ on the cross is what provides us with salvation. In gratitude we now ought learn all that God wants us to learn from His Word so we can please Him in all He has for us to do. Then we'll be the kind of disciples God wants us to be.

Can We Do All Things Through Him Who Strengthens Us?

In Paul's letter to the Philippians he wrote

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ESV

What a wonderful statement. Does that mean that all Christians can apply that statement to ourselves and expect to accomplish just about anything we can imagine? Does it mean there are no limits to how much success, wealth, and health we can achieve?

Of course to get God's perspective on any particular verse of Scripture it can help a great deal if we look at it in the context of where it is written. Before we quote any Bible passage we ought to check to see what leads up to it. Here is a bit more of Philippians chapter 4:

Philippians 4:12-13  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  (13)  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  ESV

Paul made it clear that he was not proclaiming health and wealth for himself or other Christians. In serving God he said there were times when he had abounded, yet other times when he's been brought to very humble lows. There were times when his physical and other needs had been met abundantly, and other times when he'd gone hungry and done without.

Paul was fully convinced that God worked all things together for good for those who were called according to God's purpose (Romans 8:28). Therefore if Paul found himself in prison chained to guards 24 hours a day, then he accepted it as an opportunity to share the gospel with those guards. If Paul found himself free to roam and visit new towns, he thanked God for the opportunity to tell others of Jesus and see God raise up new churches.

It seems clear that when Paul wrote that he could do all things through Him who strengthened him, he was saying that with the help of God he could and would serve him during times of pain as well as times of comfort.

Let us always seek to understand every Scripture verse in its proper context. No one has the right to change what God meant when He inspired it to be written down for believers to read and heed.