A Call to Discipleship

As we are in a new year , it is a good time to look at how we are doing both personally and as a congregation with being a disciple of Christ Jesus? We are all called to be his disciple in 2019.

Jesus said, Follow me (Matt. 4:19, 9:9). Jesus did not mean that we should just follow him physically. Rather, this is a call to be set-a- part, challenged, and taught so we see and adhere to the call and mission Christ gives us. The word disciple literally means someone who follows another’s teaching, and adheres to it. It is a commitment and a process. With Christianity it is a life long process. We spend our whole lives growing into our calling to follow Jesus Christ, to become like him and to share him with those around us.

Being a disciple means that we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone. It is the most important decision that we will ever make, and yet many of us had the decision made for us by our parents and so we do not appreciate it. Being a disciple encompasses more than just asking Christ into our life and heart, and goes far beyond baptism or our church membership!

It is allowing Christ to really matter and to spend time with him, it is forming a relationship with him. It is learning from him, imitating him, and sharing him with others. It is allowing our faith to guide us in our daily lives and relying on our faith in times of decision making. Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. It remains an abstract idea, a myth, something that is non- impacting on our lives. There may be trust in God, but no relationship.

May each one of us really take our calling to discipleship to heart and may we be Christ’s hands to do his work today, Christ’s feet to lead men in his way. Christ’s tongue to tell others how he loves them. Christ’s imitators to help others see him.
 
May The Lord Bless and Keep You,
Rev. Stephen W. Barch