What is Discipleship?

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” John 21:22

As I get older, I have come to the place to spend more time listening then talking. You learn more when you first watch and listen then act and speak. The biggest difference today is also grasping the meaning of what is being asked or said. In the old days it seems words contain specific definitions. Today, words have a way of changing their meaning overnight. Also in the old days, it seems people were more precise in their chosen words. Today, the words are misplaced and misused more often than not. This may happen at work, in the home, and also in the faith community you attend.

Recently I had this experience speaking with church leaders. They were interested in starting a discipleship training program. After several minutes, how each person in the group defined discipleship became obvious. We were not on the same page.

Some thought discipleship as learning how to better evangelize the word. Some thought of gaining better knowledge of the church’s doctrinal positions. A few emphasized the importance of practicing spiritual disciplines. Then of course, there was me. Alone again, naturally.

All the things mentioned are a part of discipleship, but in my opinion, not its core. The central core of discipleship is Jesus. To follow HIM. To learn life by walking with HIM. HE is the teacher; we are the student. Being a disciple is having a relationship with Jesus. Allowing HIM to tutor you via the Holy Spirit.

Discipleship is a training process under the tutelage of Jesus. One learns to view the world through HIS eyes. To partner with HIM in your ventures through life. To learn how to be more effective as a spouse, parent, and child. How to be Kingdom focus in your career, work, and play. How to think with wisdom in your everyday practices. As you hang out more with HIM, your attitude and actions become more like HIS. The student becomes more and more like their teacher.

A good discipleship program equips one to with the tools to become more attuned to Jesus in their world. One studies the life of Jesus in all circumstances. You study how HE related with people. How did HE communicate with others? What was HIS focus in HIS relationships? How did HE act on HIS tasks at hand? How did HE recuperate at the end of the day? How did HE prepare Himself for the start of a new day? How did HE spend HIS free time? How did HE lead? How did HE follow others? How did HE use Scripture? One studies into HIS life to gain head knowledge. But the real walk is living life with HIM throughout the day.

I compare it to a ballroom dance. The music is playing. The dance floor is open. This is your time. You have been preparing yourself for a long time for a moment like this. You wait. The anticipation is growing. You Asked your Teacher this morning for his help today. You know HE is dependable and always available to help you. But now you are Seeking HIS presence. The announcer speaks your name. The Opportunity is here. The moment has arrived. You take your first step toward the floor. You sense HIS presence. HIS encouragement. HIS confidence. HIS assurance. You give it your best.  You know HIS grace is sufficient to cover any shortfall.

Whatever the outcome, you are OK. You are being held by HIS arms. You dance for HIS glory. For HIS namesake. You consider it a privilege to dance with your teacher on this day and every day.

Discipleship is learning to function each day with Jesus. To make decisions together. To learn how best to live and love like HIM. Together to bless others. To show HIS Kingdom ways for others to capture the same vision HE has given you.

Like Jesus speaking with Peter on the beach before his ascension into heaven, the same holds true for us. Both Peter and John are HIS disciples. Both have chosen to follow HIM. Yet each may have a different ministry on earth to fulfill. Don’t compare yourself with the other. Instead focus on your purpose in walking with HIM. Peter and John both served Jesus. Both followed HIM till their last breath on earth. Jesus loved both of them.

Discipleship is following Jesus on an individual basis. But also collectively supporting one another in their walk. Together we form the church. But each with individual gifting and mission. As you learn to relate, walk, and spend time together with Jesus, HE will become more and more involved in your life. The result is a life well lived as a disciple of HIS.   

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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A Test of Trust and Loyalty

Dr. Mike 2026, Life Tools , , , , , ,

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” Proverbs 17:3

What does God want from you and me now in life? Why does HE test our hearts? What is he testing us for? Does HE want us simply to follow the rules and religious ways given to us? Or is there more?

How about those two important characteristics – trust and loyalty.

Is not trust the anchor of relationships? Is not loyalty the glue of organizational accomplishments? Are not both the heartbeat of God’s desire for you and me?

Are not both trust and loyalty expressed through the faith we exercise with Jesus? Are they not the byproduct of faith in action?

Throughout Scripture, people are always being tested by God. HE wants to confirm and also for us to know the condition of our hearts. It started with Adam and Eve. One test. One very noticeable failure. Abraham was tested. Would he sacrifice his one and only son. Moses was tested. Would he face Pharaoh on behalf of Yahweh. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tested. They would rather die than disobey their Lord. Saul was tested as king of Israel. He failed. David was tested for thirteen years before he replaced Saul as king.

Jesus was even tested in the wilderness. He could have had all his earthly desires fulfilled without trusting God’s timeline. But HE chose to wait and live out HIS Father’s will. Peter was tested and failed three times when he denied Jesus. But God’s grace empowered him when he repented with Jesus on that beach after the resurrection. Judas also was tested and failed. Rather than repent, he chose the cowardly way out of the situation and hung himself.

There are many other examples.

At the end of the day, it’s not what you know nor what you even do. Instead, can God trust you? As an agent of HIS, can HE send you to the furthest corner of the universe and know you will do what is best per HIS character? If the enemy makes an enticing offer to you, will you accept or be loyal to HIM?

Trust and loyalty are character strengths that are verified through battle. Each battle is a test. Each day when temptation comes to break the trust you and HE have developed; do you go the way of Judas or Jesus? When the adversary makes you an offer to join his side of the campaign, do you sell your loyalty for personal gain?

Yes, your faith is being tested each day. Every day you are either strengthening your relationship with Jesus or not. Like a marriage for life, you commit to make the relationship work. You do not enter situations that may endanger the trust you have built with your Lover. You may not like everything about the situation you are in, but you also know you are in good hands.

You have a relationship with the Lord of Lords. It doesn’t get any better than that. His grace is sufficient to help us hang unto HIM. Everything else is secondary no matter how well package or marketed to you. Let your loyalty and trust always be only in the God-Man from Galilee.

Make HIM your spiritual sole mate and your soul and spirit will prosper. Let your trust and loyalty be found solely in HIM and nothing else.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Purpose of Religion

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , , , ,

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27

Every institution started by humanity came about because of a shared need. From government to commerce, education to healthcare, people realized a need. Then they came together in cooperation. The institution of religion is no different.

Early mankind realized there is much outside of their control. Like today, they looked around and ask where did all this come from. They struggled for survival. They built huts to shelter from the elements. They grew crops knowing their need for sunshine and rain. All this makes one stop and ask the bigger questions of life. Who made all this? What influences the patterns of the natural world? Where did all this come about? When did life begin? Why does all this exist? How does one relate to the One or ones in charge of the unseen realm?

Early thinkers ask such questions and began to offer answers. As their influence grew, their ideas took hold and the community responded. Over time many of the superstitions and rituals became the norm within the culture one grew up in. As with most religions, there is always an inkling of truth mix up with a smorgasbord of illusions.

Enter the Jewish-Christian faith.

One of the earlier religions mostly forgotten was kept by a man of Ur, a Chaldean, named Abram. While many of his associates worshiped many gods, he worshiped the LORD God. (Most likely, the stories of Adam and Eve’s God was passed down and a few people continued to worship HIM). But the LORD chose this person as the starting block of the Jewish faith. From Abraham (God changed Abram’s name) we get to Joseph, Moses, David, and eventually through time Jesus. With Jesus, we have the New Covenant. A new religion burped from the fulfillment of the Jewish laws and prophets.

What Jesus taught was a clarification of the purpose behind religion. In his time, many people practiced religion as a transactional commodity. They practiced acts to appease their god. An insurance policy to protect them or reward them from the dangerous gods around them. A sort of like the Mafia protection racket. Pay your tribute to the gods and no harm will come upon you. Others simply practice from social constraints. But Jesus corrected their mindset.

HE spoke about HIS heavenly Father in the most tender terms. HE called HIM, Abba. Aramaic for Papa or Daddy. An intimate relationship between a father and his child. HE shared parables and stories describing how God runs to those who are lost. HE will go out of HIS way for one. HE spoke about the familial relationship between Papa God and HIS children. The healthy relationship between a father and his children is one who cares. Who wants to see HIS child succeed. Who wants to nourish and bless HIS children with the best. HE wants to see HIS children succeed in life, not fail. HE wants them to know HE loves them, unconditionally. Yet HE wants them to be the best they can be. HE wants what is best for them.

Religion gives one the structure to build a relationship with the Creator God. Bad structure, bad relationship. Good structure, good relationship.

This is the purpose behind religion. To worship and relate with the God who IS rather than the God one wants. The closer a religion aligns to the Truth, the more one comes to know and walk with the Creator. The more one walks with the Creator, the more one reflects HIS character and attitude. In the end, one learns to live a life with greater meaning and purpose and fulfillment.

One can go and try to create their own religious framework. But as many entrepreneurs will tell you, it is less costly to tweak a business already in existence. The same with religion. The world doesn’t need a new religion. Re-creating the wheel is a long and difficult road to travel. That is why many of us have investigated the leaders of various religions. The purpose is to grasp their teachings and see actual fruit of their ways. The end result is Jesus Christ and HIS Kingdom stands above them all.

Make HIM your reference point. Learn and grow in HIS grace and knowledge. You then have the foundation to build an intimate relationship with the Triune God. Yes, life is a training process preparing you for eternity with Jesus. This is the purpose of true religion.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message! Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved