Disciple - Jeremiah's Vow

Lent 2020 | Ash Wednesday: “Led”

As we begin our journey into the season of Lent this year, I would like to begin by posing a question. What does it mean to be led? What does it mean to follow someone else? What does it mean to submit to the leadership of someone whom we consider to be an influence, a mentor? Someone who provides for us an example that we can truly follow.

One of the most interesting realities of the Christian faith is that being a follower is a key aspect, a key identity to being a disciple of Christ. To being a Christian in the fullest sense of the word. We are called to submit. We are called to obedience. We are called to allowing ourselves to be influenced by someone, namely Jesus, who will provide for us the example that we need in order to become the people that we ought to be.

As we begin this season of Lent, I want to encourage you, I want to encourage myself, to remember that one of the most important tasks we have been called do is to be led.

To be led to repentance.

To be led to grace.

To be led to the cross.

We have been called, and we are admonished over and over again in the scriptures that we are followers. That doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with us. That doesn’t mean that there’s something missing in us. What it means is that we have recognized that in order for us to achieve our greatest aims, we must follow the one who is leading us to the place where we longed to be, whether we realize it or not.

We all have a longing to fulfill our purpose. But we don’t know how to discover it. We all have a desire, to have a purpose, to have meaning, to be fulfilled in everything that we do. And so we must follow Christ, who is the ultimate example of goodness, the best model for how we should conduct our lives in this world. And the more we follow, the better we are at seeing and being who Christ wants us to be.

We discover that our truest and deepest identity is in Christ. That our desires should be those of Christ. And what we have longed to be should be given to us by God in Christ.

And so in this season of Lent, as we begin this journey, I encourage you to ask yourself, are you being led? Are you allowing yourself to submit to the leadership of Christ as he strives to lead you to where you should ultimately long to go?

Lent 2018 | Day #15: Study

I’ve found that one big obstacle to studying is that it conjures up the images of trying to understand some subject we hated in school.

One of the primary definitions of the word “disciple” is that of a student. A disciple finds a teacher and learns everything they can from them. If we are disciples and we are not intentional in studying we are neglecting an important part of our new life in Jesus.

I’ve found that one big obstacle to studying is that it conjures up the images of trying to understand some subject we hated in school. The problem with this way of looking at studying is that we will end up never really do it! But if we think of studying as spending more time with something we already have some understanding of, we will find our time to be more fruitful.

There are so many concepts, ideas, and promises in the Bible. If we would spend more time with one of them, trying to see it from as many angles as possible, we will be studying more effectively. Studying God’s word, and thinking deeply about the truths God has revealed requires extended times of reflection. The longer we consider something we increase our ability to see something we have never seen before.

When I try and explain this idea to people, I ask them if they have ever done a “Where’s Waldo Puzzle?” It is the kind of game that requires looking very closely at the image and paying attention to details. What makes the puzzle more difficult is that answer is right in front of you, but you have to pay attention to details. This is essentially the attitude we should adopt when reading and studying the Scriptures.

There are aspects of the scriptures that are “obvious” than others. But we should not move on so quickly. We should seek mastery not merely consuming large amounts of information. Having more information is not the goal. Making sure that we understand what we know is a far more invaluable way of engaging with God’s word.

This is one of the aspects of Lent we don’t always take advantage of. During Lent, we are called to contemplate more intently the wonderful Gospel news. Don’t miss out on this opportunity.

Growing Pains, Pt. 5 | “Discipleship”

Being Stretched

One of the most difficult things that we as Christians must face is ourselves. For the most part there is no greater barrier to spiritual growth than our own preconceived and long standing beliefs–or misbeliefs. It is hard to get rid of those ideas and thoughts that have guided us throughout our lives. This is more the case for adults than for children because when a child comes to Christ they have not lived too much life. They have not experienced as much or seen as much. A child comes in innocence and through the love and structure of a church and family can learn the faith without having to replace or undo other ideas and feelings and thoughts from outside sources. The child asks this question, “Is what I have been taught the truth?” The adult on the other hand asks a different question. An adult’s question is, “Why should I change what I already believe and hold to be true?” This fundamental difference is what causes the stretching in people’s lives.

For the child it is a struggle to hold on to what he or she has been taught. For the adult it is the process of replacing already held beliefs for Christian ones. And it is through the process of discipleship that the stretching occurs. It is through the struggle of finding the truth and learning to exercise faith that we become more and more like Jesus. Continue reading “Growing Pains, Pt. 5 | “Discipleship””