How To Be A Disciple (14)
As we have seen, the Lord Jesus Christ chose 12 disciples for Himself and then another 70. And He sent them out to make disciples of all nations, as it is written:
‘And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go 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 things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.’ Matthew 28:18-20 ACF Bible online
After that, a lot happened after those days, and throughout history. Now we see so many ideologies in people’s thinking. And we live in globalization movements – we need to be flexible, because in many places in the world there are different cultures living together.
And as people, we all have common dreams and goals: to love and be loved, to have a home and a family, to be able to study, work and enjoy leisure time. To have friendships, to be creative, successful and healthy. If possible, to live ideals that contribute to other people’s lives, using our characteristics to do so, being able to act for the common good – whether on a small or large scale – and together with other people.
However, when it comes to beliefs, and faith, the way we believe and live our lives in more detail, we see a lot of differences. That’s why this blog shared that people are free to read and believe and decide.
Many believe in spiritual life, and in various ways. Many also believe in God. There are also those who believe in Jesus Christ and try to follow what is written in the Bible as a devotional way of living their lives. But then they come across real life and don’t see what they expect from what they’ve read.
There are people who ‘go to church’, but it has become a routine. They want to respect those who are in the limelight, speaking ‘at the altar’ or on the platform, and they may want more than just to sit and listen. They would like something more, because they hear about miracles, about brothers being together, about there being disciples…
And there is what is called discipleship. Many people would like to live the things that those other disciples lived, but they don’t feel able to. So they resign themselves to what is happening – or not – and move on, sometimes trying to ‘change churches’ in the hope that something will be better, because ‘there’ they seem to speak so well…
The ideal is what is written:
‘And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, for the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are far off, as many as God our Lord will call. And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation. So they that gladly received his word were baptized: and that day there were added unto them about three thousand souls: and they continued in the apostles’ doctrine, and in fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And there was fear in every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all who believed were together, and had all things in common.’ Acts 2:38-44 ACF Bible online
And then in that hope and desire, we try to find someone who will teach us in discipleship, provide what we need to be prepared to have that life of ‘working miracles’ and seeing angels, having a spectacular – supernatural – spiritual life.
But most don’t find a way to be discipled in this way. And they may become discouraged, disappointed with ‘the church’ and with themselves; but the most dangerous thing is the risk of becoming disappointed with God.
After all, those who have ‘given their lives to Jesus’ expect a lot from their brothers – those who ‘know everything’ – and want to reach their position as disciples, and ministers, and sent ones, as people who have their lives transformed by belonging to God again, of their own free will.
This desire can be even more frustrated when you see people with attitudes and dialogues that are different from what you expected…the language, the clothes, the attitude seem the same as those of people who don’t go ‘to church’. You see people with health, financial and character problems – without the faith and power to see people healed and transformed, as we read in the Scriptures, or Bible.
Secret inner questions may arise about how God ‘allows’ these things. But… it’s not about allowing. He has left us what we need to have those miraculous experiences.
God The Father sent us Jesus Christ, The first Son, to show us The Father:
‘Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. If you knew me, you would know my Father too, and you know him now and have seen him. Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, who is sufficient for us. Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me, Philip? He who sees me sees the Father; and how is it that you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak of myself, but it is the Father who is in me who does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; at least believe me because of the same works. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to my Father.’ John 14:6-12 ACF Bible online
He is The firstborn of many brothers. He was The first. And He chose and taught others, walking with them every day, and their character was transformed. Shall we look at an example?
‘When it was late that day, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side. And they left the crowd and took him with them, just as he was, into the boat; and there were other little boats with him. And there was a great gale of wind, and the waves came up over the boat, so that it was already full. And he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion, and they woke him up and said to him: Master, does it not behoove you that we perish? When he awoke, he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Be still, be quiet. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said to them, “Why are you so timid? Have you not yet faith? And they were greatly afraid, and said to one another, ‘Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’ Mark 4:35-41 ACF Online Bible
They had to learn to be and live in a way that was completely different from what they were used to…
