Have you ever found yourself in a discussion with a visiting minister when the question arose what you did for a living? When this happened to a friend, he instantly replied that he was a full time disciple of Jesus but moonlight (then) as a financial officer for a company to earn a living. The minister chuckled; for he knew where our friend was coming from.

As a disciple of His, we are apprentices in training. One day as revelation 12:5 states, disciples will become full time rulers and ministers in the world tomorrow. There will be no longer separation of church and state. But each person will be a statesman for God and country. Everything we do today is but only preparing us for eternity.

As we look at the various church programs in our country, the one that seems to be missing the most is a basic, fundamental approach to discipleship. We have programs for everything else but the prime reason why we are called today. John writes that it’s the Father that calls us to Jesus. It’s our Heavenly Dad that opens our mind to understand the miracle of Christ. It was Jesus that sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all the truth. And it was Jesus who gave us the command to make disciples of all nations. We may go out with the intention of planting and watering a church, but it is our Dad that gives the growth. We can persuade people to Christ, but unless our Heavenly Dad opens their mind to understand and the Holy Spirit enters into their life, they will eventually fade away.

Our nation doesn’t need more leaders; it doesn’t need more educated people; it doesn’t need more programs to help the poor.  What it needs is a simple, basic approach to real discipleship. Our churches need to emphasize one and only one program: real discipleship 101. Everything else will fall into place. But discipleship is preparing a person for leadership and ministry. It’s not only educating the mind, but also feeding the soul. It is not only exercising the body, but training the soul. It is emphasizing discipleship before leadership. It’s pulling discipleship first of all the priorities that a church runs on. Give me a church that makes discipleship first and you have a church that is growing in spiritual maturity. It may have only a few members, but its membership makes a larger difference in the lives of others than most churches with ten times the members.

We would rather be a disciple of Jesus than anything else that this world has to offer. Our thankfulness and appreciation goes to an Eternal God making this life possible.  He is creating a Spiritual masterpiece and has allowed us to be a part of it. Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit.

OUR PRAYER

Oh Heavenly Dad, thank you for life’s greatest challenge and calling. Thank you for giving us purpose and meaning to our life. Thank you for giving us all that we need to live a fruitful and fulfilling life.

Just help us always to remember our first calling. Help us to be fully committed to discipleship. Help us to be a full time student of Jesus Christ each and every day.  Let nothing come before it. Help us each day to learn something new. Help us each day to pass the tests that come our way. Help us each and every day to succeed in serving you. Help us each and every day to yield ourselves into your hands.  Everything we want and desire is with you. Help us learn from you so we can become like you.  Thank you, Jesus for being our teacher and making all this possible for us. We pray all this in your name. Amen.

Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God