On the heels of the word to commit yourself to God, let's examine what being a true disciple means. Luke 9:23, says "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Disciple is defined as any follower of Christ. There is a continued theme here, just like if you call yourself a Christian, you are a follower of Christ or calling yourself a Christian you're declaring you live a life like Christ's.
We definitely have to be careful not to call ourselves Christians without actually being a disciple. We will then be guilty of using the Lord's name in vain. Calling yourself a Christian is carrying/wearing God's name. If you knowingly and willfully continue in sin and excuse yourself because of your declaration of being a Christian, you are blaspheming God's name. That's just one of many examples you can use God's name in vain. Those who carry His name, does so as a representative of who He is. So if you're calling yourself a Christian, be fully prepared to learn how and to live by it.
Disciplining is to train to be a disciple, so being a disciple is to be someone who learns how to be a disciple. How can one become a true disciple? First thing we have to do like I noted last week, we must commit mind, body and soul to live in the will of God. It's definitely a given that in order to be true disciples, we must remember and live by the ten commandments. We must commit to being used by God for service to people who are believers and unbelievers, those who are hurt, suffering or who have lost hope. We have to study the word, so we can become teachers and train others to also become disciples. Matthew 28:19-20 ESV, says 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.”
The most important thing to learn in order to be a true disciple is to love, to be understanding and to have a compassion when dealing with God's people. Regardless of beliefs, religion, conditions, race, etc., God wants us to show others the love of God like he has shown to us.
Matthew 22:36-40, list two commandments that are the foundation for the Christian life and it says 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
What does it mean to love? Many know of the verb meaning of love which is a feeling of sexual attractions, but I want to emphasize the noun definition of love which is to have a deep affection. To love is also to have compassion, to care for, to be concerned for, to exercise friendliness, kindness, charity, goodwill and exercising sympathy for others.
You see, you can't be a true disciple unless you first know how to love and to love others like God loves you.
Showing posts with label being committed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label being committed. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
A call to be committed to God
Are you hungry for God?
Trying to live according to God's will can be tough. It's funny how, I don't very often find myself craving to read the bible or praying to God. What makes it the most challenging to understand is if I decide to eat right and deny myself unhealthy food, my cravings are overwhelming. Struggling with holding back from your cravings, means that you have become to dependent on what you're trying to free yourself of. Also your body could be carving certain foods, because your body is suffering from nutrient deficiencies.
While doing research on this topic, I found an article that list the distinction between desire and craving - desire is an expression of longing, craving is an expression of neediness. Likewise to hunger is to have a strong desire or craving for. I would go as far as saying to hunger is to suffer because of a lack of. Is it possible for one to crave the word of God? And how can I experience this craving, is the question I hope comes to your mind too. I can even take it a step further and say that we should create a routine of thanking God, worshiping God, reading the bible and praying daily. In my journey of trying to get healthier, I was told that if I create a routine of eating right and exercising daily I will become so accustomed to doing right for my body, that I'd be more likely to keep it up.
If I ever begin to backslide and don't practice in the accustomed routine, then I will crave and hunger God. Furthermore, if I seek after the things of God, He will open up my heart, eyes and mind that will cause me to want more of Him. What a blessing we will receive if we first set our mind on pleasing, praising and knowing God. The Spirit of the LORD will rest upon me-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD as stated in Isaiah 11:2.
From this day forward my goal is to create a hunger for God that will then open my eyes and turn me from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that I may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Him as stated in Acts 26:18.
The call to be committed to God, especially in today's day and age is to remember His commandments and His statutes, look for opportunities to do good - Galatians 6:10. Be in reverent fear of the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth - Joshua 24:14. Present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:1-2. We are called as Christians to walk in the way and by the example that Jesus himself showed to us - 1 Peter 2:21.
Scriptures of the day:
1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.
Psalms 14:2 The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God.
Trying to live according to God's will can be tough. It's funny how, I don't very often find myself craving to read the bible or praying to God. What makes it the most challenging to understand is if I decide to eat right and deny myself unhealthy food, my cravings are overwhelming. Struggling with holding back from your cravings, means that you have become to dependent on what you're trying to free yourself of. Also your body could be carving certain foods, because your body is suffering from nutrient deficiencies.
While doing research on this topic, I found an article that list the distinction between desire and craving - desire is an expression of longing, craving is an expression of neediness. Likewise to hunger is to have a strong desire or craving for. I would go as far as saying to hunger is to suffer because of a lack of. Is it possible for one to crave the word of God? And how can I experience this craving, is the question I hope comes to your mind too. I can even take it a step further and say that we should create a routine of thanking God, worshiping God, reading the bible and praying daily. In my journey of trying to get healthier, I was told that if I create a routine of eating right and exercising daily I will become so accustomed to doing right for my body, that I'd be more likely to keep it up.
If I ever begin to backslide and don't practice in the accustomed routine, then I will crave and hunger God. Furthermore, if I seek after the things of God, He will open up my heart, eyes and mind that will cause me to want more of Him. What a blessing we will receive if we first set our mind on pleasing, praising and knowing God. The Spirit of the LORD will rest upon me-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD as stated in Isaiah 11:2.
From this day forward my goal is to create a hunger for God that will then open my eyes and turn me from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that I may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Him as stated in Acts 26:18.
The call to be committed to God, especially in today's day and age is to remember His commandments and His statutes, look for opportunities to do good - Galatians 6:10. Be in reverent fear of the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth - Joshua 24:14. Present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:1-2. We are called as Christians to walk in the way and by the example that Jesus himself showed to us - 1 Peter 2:21.
Scriptures of the day:
1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.
Psalms 14:2 The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God.
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