Word of God Speak – Why Discipleship?

As I reflect today on the word of God, I’m once again moved at how we’ll never exhaust His word.  The passage Romans 12:4-8 has been the source of my devotional time for several days over the last 2 weeks. We’re studying discipleship in the Sunday school class that I teach.  This passage has moved me several times over to develop and cherish a closer walk with Jesus.  My desire to become a better disciple has increased manifold.

12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

As I’ve been thinking over these verses, I’ve come to new realizations of why discipleship is important.  There are different aspects of discipleship to consider, but for some reason the “why” has been arresting my attention.

So why is discipleship important?  As we follow Christ, we begin to fulfill His perfect plan.  We walk in accordance with His will.  We live according to His measure of love, mercy, and grace in our lives.  As we do those things, our talents are used to promote the kingdom of God.

Many get saved, but never move into discipleship; a consecration of oneself to Christ. When we don’t commit our lives to Him, we will almost without fail, use our talents and abilities contrary to His plan.  For this reason alone I believe becoming a disciple of Christ is exceptionally important.  Importance that is too often never emphasized, if ever.

What do I mean?

In scripture, we learn that the body of Christ is like the human body.  Just as each member of our body has a specific function, so do the members of the body of Christ.  They have specific functions too.  The our arms would do no good trying to serve as legs.  The heart would never make a good lung.  The brain, the body’s epicenter, would never function well as a toenail.

Likewise, the members of the body of Christ, need to become disciples of Christ to insure we’re serving the body in the right context and capacity.  A pastor needs to pastor.  The treasurer needs to track the budget. Those who are prayer warriors need to hold court with God and bring heaven to earth. Each member has a function.  Only when we are disciples of Christ can we truly fulfill God’s will for the body of Christ.  Our discipleship is of utmost significance.

Have you ever met someone who was acting in a position outside of his or her natural, God-given talents? I have, many times over.  And, it usually comes back to discipleship.  There’s one gentleman I know serving in a leadership position in church because he CAN work with numbers.  But, he doesn’t LIKE working with numbers.  He accepted the position just to serve. All the while, he has been miserable in the position (it’s been 5 years and he’s still in the same position).

In regards to this man, I believe the body of Christ, if truly consecrated, would step back and relieve this man from duty so he can serve in an area that 1) brings him joy and 2) allows him to serve joyfully.   In addition,  if this man were truly being a disciple, he would, for the sake of the body, resign so that he could 1) serve where he could have more joy and 2) serve joyfully as a member of the body. If we’re not genuinely disciples of Christ, we’ll get it all mixed up.  We create chaos, bitterness, and boredom.

Most of the time, though, we see people who love Jesus but aren’t consecrated disciples, trying to push themselves in positions where they can be seen.  These people bring misery and pain to the body.  When they really should be serving as a church coordinator, they’re trying to manipulate the congregation so they can become the pastor. When the body needs them to be the arm they are called to be, they are too busy trying to pretend to be the head.  It doesn’t work!

We need to wake up to our own level of discipleship.  Are we serving God in true discipleship or just because we can?

This passage has given me some clarity into how I need to best live in Christ. If I am to serve the body of Christ fully and accurately, I need to consecrate my life under His headship, pursue Him with vigor, and give Him the supremacy in all things. When I do that…He’ll have me functioning properly and in the right manner as to best serve the body…His body!

That’s why being a disciple of Christ is most important.  Disciples of Christ serve the body of Christ the very best!

Lifewarrior

Personally Speaking! “Be A Disciple”

I’m a Christian man.  I want my life to reflect that Christ has the supremacy in all things.  I want to be a disciple and help to make disciples of Christ.

So often though…I stumble.  I falter.  I fall.  I’m less than the man Christ has died for me to be.  How is it that, even with the love I have in my heart for my Lord, that I would find myself slipping, being disobedient, or even becoming outright defiant of what He desires?

I’m a man.  A Christian, yes, but still very human.  With human flaws.  With human frailty.  With human emotions and human tendencies.  Those traits make me…well…just like everyone else. We all share these qualities.

With that said, Jesus is still Lord.  He’s still on the throne.  He still died on the cross to pull me from the quagmire of life and to set my path straight.   I’m not perfect.  Christ is perfect.  In His perfection, He invites me to the table of reconciliation.   He offers forgiveness.  He offers mercy for my humanity.

In addition, and I believe equally as important, Christ offers newness of life.  He gives us a “perfection” that exists only in Him.  Our sin is covered.  We’re redeemed from our evil, sinful ways.  It’s that newness of life that I want to reflect to this world.

That walk in newness makes all the difference.  When I’m finding myself being less than what I should, He comes along side of me and encourages me, guides me, and gives me comfort and restoration. Christ never demands MY perfection…He simply says, “Follow me”…it’s about HIS perfection.

May Jesus Christ have the supremacy in all things in my life.  That’s my life’s ambition.  Is it tough at times? Of course. And yet, with Christ having the supremacy, those tough times become mere circumstantial events.  Those times become mile markers and milestones along life’s highway.  Those events become the substance that Christ uses to draw me closer to Himself and to teach me to become a better disciple.

I’m a Christian man.   And, I follow Jesus Christ.

Lifewarrior