Discipleship is based solely on our devotion to Jesus Christ, it has nothing to do with anyone or anything else. Luke 14: 25-27, MSG, "One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple." We are to put Jesus first in our lives.
My pastor says, “if you ain’t dead, you ain’t done.” Anyone can pray! What a great service. Many can call and check on others, write notes, visit and the list goes on. The way this world is going, many are troubled. “Let not our hearts be troubled.” When you are praising God or serving others, your heart cannot be troubled! I think of Wednesday nights and all of the joy that is in our gym and in my small group! Proverbs 27: 17, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Every knife becomes dull with use. A knife won't sharpen itself. Nothing weaker than iron can sharpen iron. I think of my small group - I think we are a group of godly friends who can sharpen each other. Proverbs 13:20 reminds us of this. “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” We are to continuously grow as a Christian which means it is important to choose friends who will help sharpen us.
Ephesians 2: 10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We are all called to be ministers. I read there are 58 phrases in the Bible regarding, “love one another,” “care for one another”; “help one another” and “support one another”; etc. That is what God intends for us to do. Even Jesus came to be a servant. Mark 10: 45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus is the ultimate example of selflessness. He went out of His way to talk to the woman at the well. He healed lepers. He washed His disciple’s feet. And the ultimate sacrifice, He died on the cross for our sins. When we are serving others, we cannot think about our own troubles.
There are opportunities to serve all around us. If you ask God to help you find a need, He will put someone in your path. Let’s consider their needs and serve them gladly. Galatians 6: 2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
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