Communauté et discipulat
Live Everyday as Jesus... (Mt. 16:24)
Unless we say no to our old selves, say yes to Jesus, and learn to walk with him, we will not grow. Jesus calls us to live every day, not only on Sundays, as his apprentices.
Live every day as Jesus' apprentice (v. 24)
Unless you learn to say no to your old self, say yes to Jesus, and walk with him, you will not grow. An apprentice is a learner or disciple, and Jesus calls us to be with him, to learn from him what he wants us to be and do. For some people church is a Sunday thing, but Jesus wants us to live with him every day, at work and at home. Jesus' words, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me, give three disciplines. Spiritual disciplines do not make us grow by themselves. They lead us to a place where we can experience God's grace.
Say no to your old self (v. 24)
I used to think denying myself meant giving up fun, but God is not a killjoy. Jesus means that we must not let the old self control a life that has been made new. I caught myself sizing up a younger pastor friend as less mature, and I confessed the habit of exaggerating or cutting people down. A friend once asked me who has what: do I use my camera for God, or does it possess me? Solitude, silence, fasting, secrecy, Sabbath and simple living help us loosen our grip. The monkey trap shows the cost: the monkey is stuck only because it will not let go.
Say yes at the cross (v. 24)
The cross means sacrifice and death, yet it is where I found life, God's acceptance, forgiveness, love and a new identity. Jesus invites us to carry the cross with him on the narrow path and to say yes to his way. As we do, his grace works in us, and he uses our yeses to bring life to others. Friends, fellowship and service help, but the greatest discipline is studying God's word, where God meets us and speaks. A decade-old Willow Creek study found it the number one factor in growth, a vanilla factor. Without letting the word shape how we live, we will not grow much.
Walk with him all day, keeping in step (v. 24)
This is practicing the presence of God. A quiet time can go well at 8 a.m., yet by 11 we are agitated and forget it. Jesus lives in us around the clock and wants to lead us through the challenges of work and home. So greet him in the morning, pause between tasks to thank him, pray for people, and look back in the evening. Try thanking him fifty times in a day. Keep in step with the Spirit, as Galatians teaches, and obey his promptings. I missed some, like giving money at a rest area, but a taxi ride can become a chance to pray with someone. Saying no and yes is like breathing out the old and breathing in God's truth. It sets our sail for the wind of the Holy Spirit.
Moving people to the right, everywhere
Our new vision is to live every day as Jesus' apprentice. God is on the move, and history will end with people of every nation worshiping around Christ's throne. A disciple is a forgiven sinner learning Christ through repentance (no) and faith (yes). Disciples are made through four Ps: proclamation, prayer, people and perseverance. The journey has four stages: engage, evangelize, establish and equip. Everyone makes disciples by helping people take one step to the right, such as inviting a friend to hear Rob Zacharias. We do this everywhere. March looks at work, April at family, and May at small groups and church. Jesus promises to make us fishers of men.
Apply to Life
- Let us say no to our old selves, including how we size up people, our habits of speech, and anything that holds us too tightly.
- Let us practice solitude, silence, fasting and Sabbath so that we can loosen our grip and surrender to God.
- Let us make time every day to read and study God's word and let it shape how we live.
- Let us practice God's presence by greeting him in the morning, pausing through the day to thank him, and looking back with thanks at night.
- Let us obey the Holy Spirit's promptings and help the people around us take one step toward Jesus.
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