RLD Week 2 - What is a Disciple?

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  Luke 9

This was the biggest thing that stood out to me during this study.  What is the definition of a disciple, and could I really be that?  Everything seemed out of reach when I started this journey so long ago.  A disciple had to go to school, or had to be able to speak any bible verse by memory at any time, or had to always be comfortable talking about Jesus with anyone they meet, or had to be a leader in the church, or any number of things that are not required.

Jesus makes it easier to understand.  Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him.

Follow him with your body, deny yourself.  It's denying yourself of those sins that you've fallen victim to.  You'll fall again, but you have to repent and turn away again.  It isn't easy, it's never complete, but it is a constant action.

Follow him with your mind, take up your cross daily.  This is to make the point in your head that you'll be obedient to his will.  He'll speak to you, and he speaks to everyone through different means, and it'll be up to you to hear and to take up that cross.  This isn't an occasional event, but again is a constant action - daily.

Follow him with your heart, follow him.  It does not good to only listen, but you must act.  You must try to make every action you take be one that is pleasing to God and reflective of how Jesus would handle that situation.  I've never been a fan of the WWJD fad, but it applies.  If Jesus sees someone hurting, wouldn't he stop to comfort them?  If he saw someone sick, wouldn't he care for them?  If he saw someone was thirsty, would he not give them something to drink?  

If we see someone is alone, do we comfort them or judge them?  If someone shares their struggle with sin, do we provide support or do we scoff at their weakness?

Follow Jesus, with your whole body, mind, and heart.  To do so, makes you a disciple.

I wanted to share something I read this week.  This is really written to mom's however I think it can speak to anyone.  This comes from momlifenow.com.

Naked Love

She woke up crying. I ran in to find her nose spilling blood everywhere. The couch cushion, the carpet, her dress. Quickly sweeping her into my arms I ran to the bathroom where we waited for it to end.

Just the two of us, her stripped down to princess underwear, feet dipped in the sink as we quietly waited for the bleeding to stop. I took a warm washcloth to gently clean her naked body, the sound of only the faucet in our ears. She smiled at me.

And then another sound. Ringing so loudly in my ears I could not help but weep.

“I was naked, and you clothed me.” 

I heard it so loud. So clear. And in that moment I realized more than ever before the utter importance of just being mom.

Because every time I mopped another spill, broke up another fight, wiped a millionth tear… each trip to the doctor, the play ground, the grocery store. The cleaning and cooking and laundry and laundry and laundry… Silly dances and late night cuddles. Calming fears and comforting pains. Praise. Pride. Celebrations over putting on underwear the right way.

The tasks that often seem so trivial, the moments so mundane no one else would even care to know.

Each and every time. Each and every moment. It is just as though I was serving Him. The Savior Himself… That’s how He sees it anyways.

“I was naked, and you clothed me.” 

How often does this motherhood thing tend to grab our souls and make us question yet again if we are enough? If our life is worth enough. “Just a mom,” we so often respond. Like we are somehow less deserving.

But God, He sees us as doing something of unmatched importance. Our babies depend us for everything, from the food in their belly to the clothes on their backs. And although most days we may smell like grilled cheese and old milk, He only sees beauty.

Who cares if society tells you your contribution is not enough; your life a little less worthy of praise? Does society see you at 3AM, with the sick child who does not care about your successes or awards? How much money you have made or positions you have taken. The child who cries only for momma–whose touch alone will bring the comfort and peace she needs.

“I was naked, and you clothed me.”

I held my daughter for a long time after the bleeding stopped. Knowing that these are the moments that are shaping both our souls. And as I held her I knew He was right there with us. Holding us both in ways I never could.

He’s there each day, each moment. He sees. And He smiles at my everyday world. Because He knows that with each new load of laundry I am serving Him. And I am serving a much bigger purpose than I will ever truly see.

“Then the King will say… I was hungry and you gave Me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave Me water to drink. I was a stranger and you gave Me a room. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you cared for Me. I was in prison and you came to see Me.’

“Then they will say, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You? When did we see You thirsty and give You a drink? When did we see You a stranger and give You a room? When did we see You naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and we came to You?’ Then the King will say, ‘For sure, I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of My brothers, you have done it to Me.’

 ~Matthew 25

Thurs Devo: Deadly Water

Most of you are well aware of the water crisis in Flint, MI. What if a third of all the rivers and springs were contaminated everywhere? That’s what will happen when the end to this earth is near.

Revelation 8:10-13    ¹⁰ The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— ¹¹ the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. ¹² The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

¹³ As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

The “plagues” from chapters 6-9 are warning signs to the inhabitants of the earth to wake up and realize who created them and everything around them. God won’t unleash all of His wrath impulsively at once. He will patiently and slowly release part of His wrath, giving opportunity for people to respond and repent.

When we see and experience the results of sin around us, like in the Flint water crisis, how do we respond? Do we question God? Do we try and find who to blame? Or, do we repent of our sin that contributes to the fallen state of the world around us? We can then turn to God for hope, remembering His eternal promises beyond the limitations of this life!

Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, we are all born sinful and live in a sin cursed world that will continue to decay and not improve. However, God has promised to destroy this sinful earth and create a new one where sin will be forever removed! In the New Heaven and New Earth there won’t be deadly water, but only streams of living water!       

Alice

The Power of One

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.  Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.  Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.  Ephesians 4:1-6

I want to deviate a bit from my series to share something I experienced this weekend.  I was in Charleston, SC visiting family, and had an opportunity to go Emanuel AME Church or as they refer to it there, 'Mother Emanuel.'  In case you have not made the connection, this is the church where nine people were shot and killed during bible study one early summer evening in June.  Even before I sat in the pew and listened to the sermon, I felt the Holy Spirit move within me.  It was stirring deep within connecting with fellow congregants of the church and then seemingly within the church itself.  I know the church building is but a mere assembly of brick and mortar, but to describe it as just that is to be naïve.  It’s one thing to see the church from the outside or the service from afar. However once inside, you knew this was truly a house of God.  From the people to the architecture, I could not help but feel God’s presence in that very place.  I am very happy with my church home and pastor, but as my mother appropriately stated, it felt like home.  My spirit was renewed, and my faith was strengthened.  From the songs of the hymnal praising God from whom all blessings flow to the sermon telling of how to remain faithful even when it is midnight in your journey of faith, I gained greater confidence in God and His plan for my life.  It reaffirmed within me that no matter where we are and what church we call home, we all share the same love for an awesome God.  No matter what country we live in or what color or culture we claim, there is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

We are united as one church under God.  The words of Paul here are meant to encourage and build up one’s faith.  Much like a great coach, Paul rallied the Ephesians reminding them of their one universal cause: unity with God.  We often get worn down and tired fighting worldly battles, and many times it feels overwhelming.  But God is always there, and the church is where you will find strength!  That is where you huddle with the rest of the team, and gain clarity and instruction to go out into the world and fight the battles as God’s personal advocate.  You are a part of His team with the rest of us, and if you feel a bit distant from God, remember as a preacher once told me.  Don’t lose sight of right and settle for the ‘right now.’  Trust in Him, and remain faithful.

If you are in a place of comfort, perhaps now is the time God needs you to be courageous.  Yes, it is good to rest and enjoy what God has provided, but God does not provide for us to just sit and relax.  He wants bold and active participants in His church.  As I restate a famous quote, “You can choose courage or comfort, but you cannot have both.”  The church needs faithful servants to become active participants in the building of His Kingdom!

No matter where you are or where you need to be, God and His people are with you.  This week reinforced for me that the church is still the hope of the world.  My hope is today’s devotion brings each of you both hope and encouragement for your journey of faith.  You are that light in God’s church!  If there can be an infinite level of Godly love and connection where there once was pain, despair and tragedy, it can be found anywhere.  What is God calling you to do for His church right now?  How will you ‘jump start’ your spirit?  My prayer is that we always remember the words of Paul building our church homes and taking it to the power of one!  Amen.

Tues Devo: Others

Luke 6:27-36 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (NASB)

Hello,

Yes – I am sure most of you have heard this portion of scripture before. It feels relatively simple on the surface – and we can gloss over it quickly if we are not careful. I think sometimes we get tripped up on “treat others the same way you want to be treated” because we have a distorted view of ourselves and others. We see someone else, and cannot picture ourselves in their position/situation etc – so we discount the above verses and rationalize that since we “aren’t like that” in some way shape or form we can change how we treat them. But that is not what that section says! It doesn’t say to compare yourself to the other, and then treat them accordingly. It simply says to treat others the way you want someone to treat you. This is not about how good we think we are, or what we feel we would deserve – it is boiled down to a more basic level of treatment independent of circumstance.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Love

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

With Valentine’s Day on Sunday, I figured it would be a good day to write about love.  I feel that in today’s world, the word love has lost so much meaning with many people.  It’s often used for everyone that you even care about.  However, if we look to the Bible for what love really means, 1 Corinthians 13 really defines the love that we all hope to experience. 

The Bible talks about four different types of love, agape, phileo, storge, and eros.  If we were to truly understand the meaning of each love, would we still be as quick to tell others that we love them? 

I thought it would be good to share the meaning of each of these types.

AGAPE - This is an unconditional love that sees beyond the outer surface and accepts the recipient for whom he/she is, regardless of their flaws, shortcomings or faults. It’s the type of love that everyone strives to have for their fellow human beings. Although you may not like someone, you decide to love them just as a human being. This kind of love is all about sacrifice as well as giving and expecting nothing in return. The translation of the word agape is love in the verb – form: it is the love demonstrated by your behavior towards another person. It is a committed and chosen love.

Phileo - This is an unconditional love that sees beyond the outer surface and accepts the recipient for whom he/she is, regardless of their flaws, shortcomings or faults. It’s the type of love that everyone strives to have for their fellow human beings. Although you may not like someone, you decide to love them just as a human being. This kind of love is all about sacrifice as well as giving and expecting nothing in return. The translation of the word agape is love in the verb – form: it is the love demonstrated by your behavior towards another person. It is a committed and chosen love.

Storge - It is a kind of family and friendship love. This is the love that parents naturally feel for their children; the love that member of the family have for each other; or the love that friends feel for each other. In some cases, this friendship love may turn into a romantic relationship, and the couple in such a relationship becomes best friends. Storge love is unconditional, accepts flaws or faults and ultimately drives you to forgive. It’s committed, sacrificial and makes you feel secure, comfortable and safe.

Eros - Eros is a passionate and intense love that arouses romantic feelings; it is the kind that often triggers “high” feelings in a new relationship and makes you say, “I love him/her”. It is simply an emotional and sexual love. Although this romantic love is important in the beginning of a new relationship, it may not last unless it moves a notch higher because it focuses more on self instead of the other person. If the person “in love” does not feel good about their relationship anymore, they will stop loving their partner.

When I read the definitions for each of these types of love, I have to believe that the love Christ had for us was beyond even agape. 

John 21:15-19

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.  Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Thurs Devo: No More Tears

I’ve mentioned before that we’ve been keeping a couple foster siblings some weekends. Well, before they came to our house for the 5^th weekend, the oldest told his foster mom he didn’t want to come and that he would cry for 2 hours. She told him he could cry for 2 hours, but he was going. I didn’t know all this, but at the end of the weekend as I was bundling the boy before getting in the car, he announced to me that he didn’t cry all weekend! No, he didn’t. Maybe he won’t cry most weekends going forward, either!

We aren’t guaranteed a tear-free life on this earth, but in heaven, God will wipe away every tear from the faces of His followers!

Rev 7:13-17   ¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
¹⁶ ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Besides no more tears, what else do you find encouraging or note-worthy from this passage?

Alice

Opening Up Our Heart

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.  1 Corinthians 13:1-3

There is a saying that vulnerability is the last thing I want you to see and the first thing I look for in you.  Here is an example.  When watching a news or press conference or news report, they always move to the center figure of the story.  At some point during the discussion, the person starts to break down in tears.  At that moment, the cameras focus intensely on them, and you can hear the rapid clicks of the cameras reacting to that moment.  We often see that when a person is retiring from something they have done or a relationship they have had for a number of years.  They talk about how much they loved what they did.  These are the things that bring us closer to the person. It speaks of truth, sincerity, and passion.  Many of us love God openly and unabashedly.  Yet at times in this world, some feel to say it or maybe even display it is showing weakness.  However if we cannot be open and vulnerable enough to show this very act, how can we truly love God and others?

Vulnerability to God means to open up your heart to Him as well as others.  The words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 speak to the very core of why love must be at the center of all we do.  He was speaking of having spiritual gifts and abilities and how they are rendered meaningless without love.  God’s love for us brings us peace, joy, and comfort.  Furthermore, it can also bring us trials, failures, and challenges to grow spiritually.  Our perception of love tends to be the former, and thus, to show it makes us seem weak and vulnerable.  However if we know the latter is also love, we realize that it is also strength and conviction.  Despite our flaws, God shows us love in both ways.  While loving a flawless God is easy, loving flawed people is very difficult, and leaves us vulnerable to being disappointed and hurt.  However if God is to love us in spite of all of our faults and our mission is to follow His example, we realize we must do the same.

As God loves us, we must love others.  Jesus said, “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:20-21)  Furthermore as to the greatest Commandment, “Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)  If we treasure our love for God and others the most, we will have the greatest rewards in Heaven, and that is what matters above all.  How can you be more vulnerable in showing your heart for God?  What steps can you take toward loving others as God loves you?  My prayer is that we show greater resolve for opening up our heart to God and others.   Amen.

Tues Devo: What is He looking for?

(*Authors note…last week I referred to the writer of Hebrews as Paul – that was slip. I don’t have any special revelation about the authorship of Hebrews! I apologize for that error)

Psalm 15 “O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.” (NASB)

Hello,

As we go through our lives, it is obvious to say that we get busy and sidetracked. I know that I start to segment things, and align priorities within each segment. The issue becomes at some point you feel like there are multiple top priorities – well, what then? You have to recalibrate with what really matters. If you are anything like me when this happens, you start to look at how those competing priorities might support one another – leading to rationalizations and excuses. We start to tangle together priorities. We can start to think that focusing on other priorities all the time is what we are supposed to do. How do you pull out of this cycle? The answer, get simple. Go back to Scripture and see what it is that is simply required of us. The list is plain – walk in integrity, do righteousness, speak truth, don’t slander, don’t be evil to neighbors. The list goes further – and while doing these may be challenging, it is not complicated.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

RLD Week 1 - Have a Heart for Discipleship

 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

The thing that struck me the most in going through the first week was that we are each disciples.  Believe it or not, this was a foreign concept to me.  I had grown up hearing about the 12 disciples that followed Jesus and calling myself and others Christians, but disciples?  Was I really a disciple?

Yes.  I am.  Maybe I'm falling into that evangelical demographic by doing so, but I'm starting to call myself a disciple of Christ and not simply a Christian.  I think back to some of the classic literature I've read - being a gentleman was something you did and practiced, it wasn't a title lightly bestowed on everyone.  Quite frequently now, the term gentleman is used to describe anyone with good manners, and not someone who truly practiced that style of life.  The same has started to happen with the term Christian.  People will say they're Christian, but do you truly live for Christ?  Do you ache for those that are not following Christ?  Do you keep Christ at the forethought of your decisions?  Do you lean on him for everything - really EVERYTHING?  Do you eat, breathe, and sleep for Christ?  Do you bleed for him?

It's tough to go through that total and complete surrender.  I'm still working on it.  It's a huge leap of faith, and it's a huge commitment.  You will be vulnerable and raw to open yourself up like this.  Even if it's something you're working on, you're a disciple for Christ.  You are a disciple.  Just as the twelve who followed Jesus were unique and different from each other, we too are different and unique.  We are disciples in different ways and in different stages of our walks with Christ.  You are a disciple, just as those twelve were disciples.