Where Everybody Can Be A Discipler
Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.
When we were saved, God’s most Precious Treasure (Jesus) was deposited into our clay pot’s heart (II Cor. 4:7). At first, we were spiritual babies and His Word our “spiritual milk” (I Pet. 2:2-3). But, like a human baby, after “tasting that the Lord is gracious” (v.3), we should “grow in His Grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” (II Pet. 3:18).
“I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them that love His appearing.”
That’s the bottom-line message of the Apostle John’s Manna today. This aged, beloved follower of Christ, who was the only one of the original 12 Apostles who didn’t die a violent death, knew up-close-and-personal what it meant to “love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength” (Dt. 6:5). And, this is the message he was trying to convey to his readers (and us) as he penned these wonderful words.
Now, at first glance, his first words (“Love not the world, neither the things in the world”) are tough to understand. Does this mean we should become an ascetic hermit who lives in a hut in the mountains or a shanty on the seashore? Does this mean it’s wrong for us to have a nice house, car, clothes, etc., or enjoy going to a movie, ballgame, hunting, etc?
When the reason for our service is the pleasure of His smile, we need never wonder what our motive is.
Love and obedience.
The two always go hand-in-hand. Although none of us can really “know our heart—for it’s incredibly deceitful and wicked” (Jer. 17:9)—we can still do our best to consciously commit in consecration every part of our lives to Christ in all we say and do.
How heartbreaking it is for a parent to try and raise a child who’s stubborn and rebellious. At first he tries coaxing or “sweet-talking” the little tyke into obeying. Then, he tries a sterner approach with “commands and consequences.” If that doesn’t work, then forced compliance (e.g., corporal punishment, depriving of privileges, etc.) kicks in—and the child’s only two-years-old! How much greater the heartache when the child’s 46-years-old and still incorrigible!!
Introduction
The last thing that we have discussed about two weeks ago is all about becoming doers of the word and not just being hearers. Today we will start talking about living with a working faith.
Understanding the Case of Favoritism
What is favoritism? Probably some of us are still struggling with the meaning of favoritism. One of the definition in the dictionary concerning favoritism is the “unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prenjudice. I personally picked this definition, because it does fit to our passage today.
During those precious hours in the upper room after Jesus’ final Passover meal with His disciples, He washed the disciples’ feet (Jn. 13:1-11) and then asked “Do you realize what I’ve just done to you?” (v.12b). And, for the next several minutes He imparted to them (and us) some life-changing truths that will transform our lives, families, church, etc., if we’ll let them.
When He shared more about His upcoming departure (vv.31-33), He knew it’d not be until after His Resurrection and Ascension that they’d finally begin to understand what He was talking about. Their hearts were too heavy and their ears too “dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11-14) to grasp the essence of His words.
Yet, He probably caught their attention a bit more when He said “A new Commandment I give unto you: That you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (v.34). They knew they were to “love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength” (Mt. 22:37). They’d learned that from the time of a child (Dt. 6:4ff). They also knew they were supposed to “love their neighbor as themselves” (Mt. 22:39). Jesus had repeatedly talked about this during His 3 ½ year earthly ministry (Lk. 10:30-37).
But, now He added a new dimension to all of this: “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples—if you have love one to another.” And, this would later be qualified even more when He said “to love each other AS I HAVE LOVED YOU” (Jn. 15:12). That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote Phil 2:5-11 and I Cor. 13 as “Pilgrim Primers”—for they help us better understand how to do this.
He commanded Peter to throw the net on the right side of the boat. He told Peter what he should do. Yes, in Jesus’ way. In God’s way. Not in Peter’s way.
Jesus said, ” Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” (verse 6, NIV). He did not say, “Peter, would you like to throw your net on the left side of the boat?”
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