The Solitary Life of A Disciple
The path of the serious disciple is a lonely one indeed. In the past couple of weeks, three professed believers have indicated to me that for various reasons they are choosing not to pursue a thoughtful commitment to follow Jesus Christ:
Why should I be surprised or distressed, as the life of the serious disciple has always been a lonely one:
Over a period of time, as the Holy Spirit puts His finger on various issues in our lives, we are faced with the choice of obedience, or of going our own stubborn way.
The more we obey, the greater will be the sense of alienation from the vast bulk of fellow-believers who have long since chosen the easier path of compromise.
During one of Jesus' critical interactions with His followers, "many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 'You do not want to leave too, do you?' Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'" (John 6:66-68)
QUESTION: Are you prepared to walk the passage of obedience alone with Jesus – at whatever the cost – while most fellow-believers are surrendering to the world's seductive forces?
Minister Calvin Wyatt /email:cixmo@aol.com /calvincosmo30@gmail.com /calvincosmo@facebook.com.
The path of the serious disciple is a lonely one indeed. In the past couple of weeks, three professed believers have indicated to me that for various reasons they are choosing not to pursue a thoughtful commitment to follow Jesus Christ:
- For one it has to do with the crushing pressure of getting a new business up and running.
- Another, it seems, is seduced by the pleasure his newly acquired affluence now affords him.
- And a third honestly admitted to me that applying Biblical ethics to the operation of his business would prove his financial undoing.
Why should I be surprised or distressed, as the life of the serious disciple has always been a lonely one:
- Jesus faced the prospect of the cross alone.
- Paul faced the trial for his life alone.
Over a period of time, as the Holy Spirit puts His finger on various issues in our lives, we are faced with the choice of obedience, or of going our own stubborn way.
The more we obey, the greater will be the sense of alienation from the vast bulk of fellow-believers who have long since chosen the easier path of compromise.
During one of Jesus' critical interactions with His followers, "many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 'You do not want to leave too, do you?' Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'" (John 6:66-68)
QUESTION: Are you prepared to walk the passage of obedience alone with Jesus – at whatever the cost – while most fellow-believers are surrendering to the world's seductive forces?
Minister Calvin Wyatt /email:cixmo@aol.com /calvincosmo30@gmail.com /calvincosmo@facebook.com.
Empowerment:
What Are Your Ministry Motives?
Trains can get derailed, and so can people. Believers are still in danger from the enemy’s lies today—not just false ideas about the gospel, but also about ministry
.
False ideas about ministry can result in burnout, relationship conflict, and misrepresenting Christ to the world.
People can go into ministry for all kinds of reasons.
Here are some:
Some of the above motives are obvious derailments, and others are not wrong in themselves. However, just as the absence of the primary motive in any activity is bound to have a negative effect, any work of ministry based only on ourselves or earthly factors is not enough to sustain a genuine, long-term work for God.
Even compassion for others or ambition for God’s work are not enough. They might produce results, but what if they do not? What about when the times get hard and the fruit does not show? The problem with most of our typical motives is that they are based on ourselves—on how we feel or the opinions and circumstances around us. Any personal reason is fragile and subject to change when our feelings or circumstances do not meet our expectations.
Just as there is a true gospel, based on God the Father’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, there are preeminently good reasons to be in ministry:
1. Obedience. Plain and simple, if God says go, we should go. Giving our lives to ministry out of obedience means we can continue on regardless of results, people’s opinions or expectations, or even our own failings and weaknesses. We need not worry about finances or safety, because if God is the one who has directed us, He will be responsible to provide all that is needed for His work.
2. Love. Serving out of love for people is important but not the complete story. People will disappoint us. Going out of love for Jesus Christ and His command to reach the world is enough to sustain us when those around us fall short of our hopes and expectations. Love allows us to give without needing love returned or even a positive response.
Love gives us strength to endure through sacrifice, rejection, and even persecution. Let us examine our own hearts to make sure we are not serving God for the wrong reasons. When we have set aside ourselves (having no confidence in the flesh—Phil. 3: 3), we can then ask the Lord to show us His will for us, which we are to obey in love, resulting in ministry that will truly give God glory.
—Kimberly Rae.
What Are Your Ministry Motives?
Trains can get derailed, and so can people. Believers are still in danger from the enemy’s lies today—not just false ideas about the gospel, but also about ministry
.
False ideas about ministry can result in burnout, relationship conflict, and misrepresenting Christ to the world.
People can go into ministry for all kinds of reasons.
Here are some:
- They think it will gain God’s favor, or even get them into heaven.
- They hope to gain a higher status in their church, as missionaries and preachers are often placed on spiritual pedestals.
- They care about making a difference and are drawn to those in need.
- They are naturally ambitious and want to change the world for good.
- They are running away from something.
- They are bowing to pressure from others. Nobody else is doing it.
- The people who are doing it are not doing it right.
Some of the above motives are obvious derailments, and others are not wrong in themselves. However, just as the absence of the primary motive in any activity is bound to have a negative effect, any work of ministry based only on ourselves or earthly factors is not enough to sustain a genuine, long-term work for God.
Even compassion for others or ambition for God’s work are not enough. They might produce results, but what if they do not? What about when the times get hard and the fruit does not show? The problem with most of our typical motives is that they are based on ourselves—on how we feel or the opinions and circumstances around us. Any personal reason is fragile and subject to change when our feelings or circumstances do not meet our expectations.
Just as there is a true gospel, based on God the Father’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, there are preeminently good reasons to be in ministry:
1. Obedience. Plain and simple, if God says go, we should go. Giving our lives to ministry out of obedience means we can continue on regardless of results, people’s opinions or expectations, or even our own failings and weaknesses. We need not worry about finances or safety, because if God is the one who has directed us, He will be responsible to provide all that is needed for His work.
2. Love. Serving out of love for people is important but not the complete story. People will disappoint us. Going out of love for Jesus Christ and His command to reach the world is enough to sustain us when those around us fall short of our hopes and expectations. Love allows us to give without needing love returned or even a positive response.
Love gives us strength to endure through sacrifice, rejection, and even persecution. Let us examine our own hearts to make sure we are not serving God for the wrong reasons. When we have set aside ourselves (having no confidence in the flesh—Phil. 3: 3), we can then ask the Lord to show us His will for us, which we are to obey in love, resulting in ministry that will truly give God glory.
—Kimberly Rae.
A Clarion Call:
If you have not yet received the Lord Jesus into your life, or you once received Him but backslid, make yourself available of this opportunity and pray this prayer: There is no degree of sin the Lord cannot blot out. Do not postpone, for tomorrow may be too late.
Father I come before you as a sinner (Romans 3:23)
I sincerely repent of my sins (Acts 3:19)
I believe that Jesus died and was resurrected to grant me salvation
(John 3:16)
Today, as I receive Him into my heart by faith, grant me grace,
not to go back to my old sinful ways (Proverbs 28:13)
Thank you Lord for saving me.
