MUSINGS - February 15, 2019
DESERVING DISCIPLESHIP
Matthew 10:34-42
"Don't think that I came to bring peace to earth. I didn't come to bring peace but conflict. I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A person's enemies will be the members of his own family. "The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. Whoever doesn't take up his cross and follow me doesn't deserve to be my disciple. The person who tries to preserve his life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for me will preserve it. "The person who welcomes you welcomes me, and the person who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The person who welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. The person who welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives any of my humble followers a cup of cold water because that person is my disciple will certainly never lose his reward."
For the last few days we have been studying the instructions that Jesus gave the twelve disciples before sending them off on their own into the land of Israel. This last section is less of an instruction and more of a lesson on what it takes to be a true disciple.
Anything that is valued more than following Jesus is to be left behind. In a rather crude way of summarizing this teaching, we are to be empty of self and full of Jesus. At the same time we are not puppets, because we all have our own gifts and defects that God can use to His glory. As the Apostle Paul States, we are many parts but one body. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) We don't get to decide what parts we play any more than a hand can choose to be an eye.
Each morning Ella and I pray that the light out Jesus shines through us, that people see Jesus when looking at us.
When I first read thus prayer of John Wesley's out spoke to me. To me this what it takes to be deserving of discipleship snd I often say it as my own prayer. "“I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”
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