Yesterday I shared a blog from Dave Rhodes that I really liked…and got some good feedback. Here’s Part 2 of Dave’s thoughts about how we position ourselves to disciple others rather than entertain them.
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I really liked this post by Dave Rhodes of 3DM. Check it out:
http://3dmovements.com/blog/performers-draw-crowds-but-leaders-make-disciples-pt-1/
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Rescued From Self
If there really is a God, and He has revealed enough of His character and plans in scripture that we can truly understand what His priorities are for His creation, then why do we not look into God’s Word with more fervor and consistency? And why, after discovering His ways and weighing them against our own, are we so apt to disregard them and do what we want anyway? Most of us really don’t have room for God on the throne of our lives. It seems that we instinctively want everything, especially control. Truly, we are an incurably proud race. As the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer.17:9)
Thankfully, God’s understanding of us, His mercy & grace for us, and His plans to redeem us go way beyond our hearts! Today, this sinner is thankful for God’s grace in Jesus!
“We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:14-25)
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What is Discipleship?
What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does it look like? He calls us to come alongside Him to be His “disciples”….to “make disciples”…and to be engaged in “discipleship.” But what in the world is discipleship, anyway? Ask 20 people and you may get 20 different answers. I really liked this definition by Dallas Willard:
“Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if He were you.”
What do you think?
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Meditation in the Pool
My workout this morning provided an object lesson about walking with God and growing in character. I got into the pool for a swim, and within 3 lengths I started feeling some cramping in my left calf! I was totally frustrated, because this has been a thing lately and I was careful to hydrate and get some electrolytes this morning, in addition to eating a good breakfast. I could tell it wasn’t injury related, but just my muscle fibers whining. So I pushed through and it got better, though it never completely went away…sort of nagging me like a 4-year old in the back seat whining “how much longer?” Honestly, this is just part of physical training. The body is a divine masterpiece which, barring illness or injury, will do whatever we demand of it with surprising speed & efficiency….IF we don’t give up!
Like Paul reminded his protege’ in Timothy 4:8 – “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Some of my most inspirational realizations and moments with the Lord come to me while I’m sweating and gasping for breath. Today’s lesson was a reminder to avoid the temptation of running away from discomfort. We falsely believe that God wants us to be comfortable, when in fact He wants us to grow…and discomfort is most often required to catalyze the process.
“Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” (James 1:2-4)
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Investing Time with Jesus
Today’s reading from “Jesus Calling”:
“Time with Me cannot be rushed. When you are in a hurry, your mind flitters back and forth between Me and the tasks ahead of you. Push back the demands pressing in on you; create a safe space around you, a haven in which you can rest with Me. I also desire this time of focused attention and I use it to bless you, strengthening and equipping you for the day ahead. Thus, spending time with Me is a wise investment. Bring me the sacrifice of your precious time. This creates sacred space around you-space permeated with My Presence and My Peace.”
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Crooked Tree
I saw an amazing and wonderful thing.
I was on a prayer walk, meandering through the heavily wooded trails of Hyland Forest Park near my home. I love to seek still, lonely places when I pray – it helps quiet my mind so I can hear the Lord more clearly. As I walked, I was feeling burdened by some of the circumstances of my own life, against a backdrop of all the troubles and challenges that face all of mankind every day. I think of the Bible verse written by King Solomon: “What a heavy burden God has laid on men!” (Ecclesiastes 1:13)
Many people never get to the next part, they just stop there and sit in the burden or try to forget about it and go on their way. But I have learned, through the years of walking with this ultimately Faithful Friend of mine, that He is “Able to do infinitely more than all I ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). I have learned to seek Him for answers and consolation in the midst of all we have to go through in this temporary life.
I came upon this tree. I was surrounded by hundreds of beautiful evergreen conifer trees – fir trees I think. But this one tree was amazing. It was literally coming out of the ground sideways, then bending straight up towards the sky. It was as tall and massive and straight as any other tree in the forest, but its footing was totally cockeyed! As I stood there studying it, I noticed that the ground on one side gave way to a little depression about 5-feet deep – like a ravine or sinkhole had developed long ago when the tree was just a sapling. Apparently the young tree was able to endure the trauma and thrive in spite of it. I have seen trees growing crooked or bent before, but this was the first fully-matured tree I remember seeing that turned a full 90-degrees! I thought of how fitting this vision was of my life, and the lives of so many people I have known over the years.
God’s Word promises us that He is able to bring good out of every circumstance. Even the most painful experiences we endure can be used by Him to produce good in the world and strength in us. This isn’t just a godless, gooey “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” message, but an affirmation of the scripture in Romans, “…We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” When I was a kid, I believed that following Christ would mean He would take all my problems away and give me a carefree life. The older I get in Him, the more I realize that His power to transform me and bring meaning & hope to my life “is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It is when we trust Him in our struggles that we are able to grow strong in His upward direction.
