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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: disciples

  • Disciples – what are they?

    Disciples – what are they?

    Jesus and his disciples

    Last night we watched the 2016 movie “Risen”. It’s the tale of a Roman soldier sent to find the body of Jesus. He encounters Jesus and the disciples and eventually becomes a believer. It’s the sort of story that’s been told before, and there is a fair bit of artistic license, but it was an okay watch.

    There is a scene where Peter and the soldier are discussing how Jesus, with a full body, can disappear, and Peter admits to not understanding. Peter says, “We are followers, we follow to find out.”

    That’s a good line and fits the movie. We are all followers because we want to know Jesus better. Yet, in another sense, it’s woefully inadequate. We are more than seekers of knowledge. As his disciples, we follow the master in order to become like Him, to follow his instructions. It also keeps the follower as the center of the search not the Lord.

    As disciples, Jesus should be our focus and Lord. We do our part to bring about the answers to the Lord’s Prayer. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). God changes hearts and minds, but we have labor to do to bring about the kingdom.

    Perhaps you never considered the fact that being a Christian was never meant to be a passive activity and isn’t primarily about you (or me). All true believers are disciples and have been given a task to accomplish by Christ Himself

    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

    We all have a differing role to play in that commission and have been given different spiritual gifts to accomplish it. Yet we are called to do our part to bring about the kingdom.

    Yes, we are called to grow in Christ. Yes, we are called to know. Yes, we are called into a deeper relationship with him.

    But if all that stays internal and passive, we are not being true to our calling. Our relationship with Jesus is intimately personal, but it is also public, and we are commanded to take it into the world.

    I pray, that as you grow in Christ, you grow in true discipleship and are used greatly by the Lord.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Step Out of the Boat Faith

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    # Right Belief Must Become Right Living

  • Step Out of the Boat Faith

    Man standing on the water beside the boat - get out of the boat faith

    When I awoke this morning, I was remembering a fishing trip long ago, with a friend and his dog. We were sitting out in the lake enjoying the sun and catching a few fish, when Tawny spotted a duck she wanted to visit and decided to step out of the boat.

    The result was as inevitable as it was comic. The water wasn’t solid ground, and down she went. By the time we got her back in the boat, both Bruce and I were soaked and had nearly capsized a couple of times.

    Whenever I remember that trip, my mind drifts to a familiar passage in the gospel. The one where Jesus walked on the sea, and Peter, too, decided to step out of the boat.

     Immediately, he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,  but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.


    And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.

    But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
    And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”


    He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

     Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-23

    I’m sure the other disciples ribbed him about that for years. We often talk about the foolishness of Peter panicking when he began to sink.

    We forget one important point, Peter actually stepped out of the boat. He had faith, weak faith, but faith nonetheless, and acted on it. Jesus rescued him.

    The other disciples didn’t even bother to try. They probably teased Peter for a long time, but I suspect that deep in their hearts, they wished they had been the ones who tried.

    Faith that isn’t put to the test isn’t faith; it’s a wish, a vague hope.  You’ve got to put into practice the things God has called us to do, exercise your spiritual gifts.

    Perhaps you’ll find yourself in over your head, but trust God. Peter didn’t fail; he tried. The other disciples stayed in the boat and didn’t experience God’s rescuing hand.

    It’s time, my dear friends. Step out of the boat, walk in the Spirit, and put your faith to the test.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Disciples – what are they?
    # Right Belief Must Become Right Living
    The power of the natural world points us to God