Discipleship

Do You Want to be a Disciple?

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”                       John 9:27 NKJV

Discipleship is by faith and it is also our own personal choice. In the words of Tim Allen from the film The Santa Clause “What if I choose, not to believe?” God calls, He appeals to us and ultimately Jesus gave His life for us to become His children, but He is not in the kidnapping business!

 

In many ways the blind man in John chapter nine is just like us. Because of his disability his only option was to be dependent on the kindness of strangers. But Jesus knew His story just as He knows ours. When others thought that either he or his parents must have done something terribly wrong Jesus said “No, this is part of God’s plan!”

Jesus didn’t lecture the blind man about his life style or invite him to a prayer meeting. Instead Jesus made mud, put it on his eyes and sent him to wash it off. The man had a choice. He could have refused. He could have said, “Wh

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at good will that do?” But rather than thinking things over or putting it off till to the next day. He just did what Jesus asked. Jesus is asking for us to be a part of His miraculous plan. Do we want to be His disciples? Doing what he asks us today will set in motion our healing and put us one step down the road to following Him!

Jesus loved…

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As we drove down a side road in Amish country we stopped at a small farm stand. There a sweet red haired girl of about 6 was watching her mother’s shoo-fly pie, fresh baked cookies, and chow-chow. She told us her name was Martha. “Well I’ve got some good news for you Martha.” I said. “The Bible says that Jesus loved Martha!” I told her and we both laughed.

I picked out some cookies and paid for them and she put them into a bag then waved and smiled as we drove off. Remembering that moment today I wondered how many kinds of people that Jesus loved. There is an election just one week away and our debate has become heated and angry. We hear it on television, see it in our neighborhoods, and sadly even in our churches. Below is a list of people Jesus loves. It makes me wonder if we can make a list of people we are ready to love for Him.

He loved Mary Marta and Lazarus

He loved His disciples to the end

He loved the rich young ruler

He loved his sheep and died for them

He loved tax collectors and sinners

He loved a woman caught in adultery

He loved His enemies and forgave

He loves all of us and our neighbors

Who will we tell that Jesus still loves today?

What are Your Plans?

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I loved the scene from the film “Evan Almighty” when Evan (Steve Carell) tells God “But I have my plans!) then God (Morgan Freeman) laughs and responds, “Your plans?”

I laugh every time because it is a conversation I have silently had with God on so many occasions. “But I planned to sing a song, make a friend or start a new job”. Those were my plans! But God in His infinite love and mercy pulls out His schedule, glances down and shakes His head lovingly. “Nope! Pete…You’re just going to have to trust me with this.”. Ever notice how our Heavenly Father loves to put the ball back into our court and then waits to see our response? Here are a few folks from the Bible who also had plans:

Job would have liked to stay rich, safe and blessed.

Mary was planning what to wear to her wedding

Elisha just wanted to finish ploughing his father’s field

Peter wished he could catch a few fish.

But God had other amazing, astonishing and challenging plans they could never have even imagined. God also has awesome plans for you and me. What are your plans? What might God be calling for in your life today? Whatever it is we know that His plans are way better than anything we could dream!