You are a unique disciple. As is anyone you disciple.
“[Discipleship] training cannot be done on a mass scale. It requires patient, careful instruction and prayerful, personal guidance over a considerable time. Disciples are not manufactured wholesale. They are produced only one by one.”
J. Oswald Sanders
Spiritual Leadership, Moody Publishers, 1967
The Greek verb mathéteuó is “to be a disciple” or “to make a disciple.” How does it apply to you?
Disciple as a verb includes growing in knowledge of God’s Word and developing the lifestyle it requires. Being discipled implies you are continuously studying the Scripture and putting it into practice.
Putting it into practice includes passing it on.
Being a disciple, making disciples–you can’t have one without the other.
A recent article in the Navy Times caught my eye. The U. S. Navy hospital ship Comfort docked in Port-au-Prince for a week (November 4-13) and provided medical assistance. But it wasn’t just the desperate need for health care services that pulled at my heart.
“In addition, U.N. World Food Program spokesman Herve Verhoosel said Friday that more than 3.7 million people in the country of 11 million are facing food insecurity, with more than 1 million now in the emergency category, one step below famine.”
Let those number sink in. One-third of Haiti’s people lack consistent access to nutritious food. One in ten is always hungry, not far from starvation.
Lord, feed your sheep in Haiti. Tell their story. Let the world see and compassionately respond. Transform corrupt and selfish leaders into kind and generous souls who worship You and safely shelter Your precious children.
The Apostle Paul was arrested on trumped-up charges and made his case before Felix, the Roman governor.
Acts 24:25 (NLV)
Paul spoke about being right with God . . . He spoke about standing before One Who will tell us if we are guilty. When Felix heard this, he became afraid and said, “Go now. I will send for you when it is a better time.”
Perhaps Felix was plugging for a bribe. Maybe he was too terrified to change. Maybe he wanted to pretend he’d never heard about God.
Time is short. Don’t be like Felix. He missed the opportunity of lifetime.
Acts 14:17 (MEV)
Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying our hearts with food and gladness.
How many of us are quick to blame God for the dry seasons and laud ourselves for the fruitful ones? We claim full credit for our well-fed tummies and happy hearts.
What’s on your dinner plate today? More than enough to satisfy body and soul? Be fruitful with your praise. Thank God for his goodness.
Acts 3:19 (AMP)
So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day].
Father God, change my thinking, scrub away those sins I so regret. Make me like a clean, bright white sheet, fluttering on the clothesline in the refreshing wind of Your presence.
My thoughts this week will be based on the Greek word kairos, sometimes translated “time.” It’s not so much an hour and minute, but a season, occasion or opportunity. It’s used in 86 different places in the New Testament, nine of them in the book of Acts. We’ll look at three:
Which one is driving you right now? Rest, productivity or convenience?
Regardless, your times are in God’s hands.
The 1th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 marked the end of the first World War, the “war to end all wars.” It didn’t. End all wars, that is. Since then, there have been dozens of wars, millions of deaths.
Mark 13:7 (NKJV)
But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
Even so, long for peace. Pray for peace. Pray for the Prince of Peace.
Revelation 22:20
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday is Veterans Day in the US.
Our wounded vets deserve more than a day.
The Wounded Warrior Project helps veterans who experienced physical or mental injury or illness while serving in the military. The focus is on recovery and quality of life. Claude Boush is a Wounded Warrior peer mentor.
“’The purpose of the military is to train for war and then be in war,’ says Claude. ‘Now I use that same training to help my fellow warriors fight inner struggles and find peace.’”
Pray for their physical, emotional and spiritual healing.
O Great Physician, wrap our wounded warriors in the comfort of Your love. Shelter them with Your power. Surround them with Your peace. Restore their souls, in Jesus’ name.
1 Chronicles 28:9 (ESV)
Know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.
Good advice–from King David to his son Solomon. Centuries later, it still applies.
Lord God, give me a mind willing to serve you with my whole heart. I want to make Your plan my plan.
