Ron, the leader of our Nehemiah men’s group, chose DISCIPLESHIP as our theme for the fall, and we’re well into it with the THREE CHAIRS illustration pointing to Commitment, Compromise, or Complacency in our walk and relationship with Jesus. Where are you within these three Cs?
Simply said, Jesus calls us to be DISCIPLES our whole life long, daily, and to DISCIPLE others as we go. (Matt 28:19-20) This morning we heard some thoughts on and DISCIPLESHIP practices from Ray Vander Laan and Francis Chan. I noticed the sign on the stage where Fracnis Chan was speaking said, “DISCIPLESHIP IS THE FUTURE.” Probably the Holy Spirit is saying the same thing to the church now, and has been since Jesus gave the command. Can we hear it? Can we do it?
We’ll be discussing and praying and acting upon DISCIPLSHIP this fall and hopefully in a fuller measure for the rest of our earth lives. We heard about the Shema this morning. The first word coming from Jesus’ mouth when asked what is the greatest commandment, was Shema “HEAR and OBEY” the God Who Is One, and show your love for Him in this way–hearing and obedience.
It was pointed out that the word translated “HEAR” in the Bible (Shema, שמע) is translated “OBEY” 90% of the time. Stay close enough to hear, and you’ll have His Holy Spirit whispering to you and giving you the power to act and bring God’s power into situations involving family, work, and play as you journey. Be a DISCIPLE, and by your example, making disciples.
God’s Shalom be yours…
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“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
“Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
I read a post today entitled, “Words Have Wings” by a beautiful Jewish woman we met on a recent cruise. The thoughts and Scripture she shared seemed to be apropos to her point, and to the call to DISCIPLESHIP:
“Moshe, the great teacher and leader, sees his end approaching and perhaps it is for this reason that these messages appeal to people’s hearts? We read:
כִּ֚י הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם לֹֽא־נִפְלֵ֥את הִוא֙ מִמְּךָ֔ וְלֹ֥א רְחֹקָ֖ה הִֽוא׃
לֹ֥א בַשָּׁמַ֖יִם הִ֑וא לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֣י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֤נוּ הַשָּׁמַ֙יְמָה֙ וְיִקָּחֶ֣הָ לָּ֔נוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵ֥נוּ אֹתָ֖הּ וְנַעֲשֶֽׂנָּה׃
וְלֹֽא־מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיָּ֖ם הִ֑וא לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֣י יַעֲבָר־לָ֜נוּ אֶל־עֵ֤בֶר הַיָּם֙ וְיִקָּחֶ֣הָ לָּ֔נוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵ֥נוּ אֹתָ֖הּ וְנַעֲשֶֽׂנָּה׃
כִּֽי־קָר֥וֹב אֵלֶ֛יךָ הַדָּבָ֖ר מְאֹ֑ד בְּפִ֥יךָ וּבִֽלְבָבְךָ֖ לַעֲשֹׂתֽוֹ׃ (ס)
רְאֵ֨ה נָתַ֤תִּי לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם אֶת־הַֽחַיִּ֖ים וְאֶת־הַטּ֑וֹב וְאֶת־הַמָּ֖וֶת וְאֶת־הָרָֽע׃
“Surely, this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach. It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?” Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?”
No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.”
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (Translation taken from Sefaria)
