Discipleship

Discipleship and what it takes are top of mind for me right now. Following Jesus is hard! Never mind the pandemic. Getting yourself out of the way--Get behind me, Satan—is hard in the best of times. There is a price for discipleship. 

Discipleship.
Following Jesus Christ.
On “The Way.”

Jesus leads.
We follow.
That’s how it works.

So really? 
What does that look like?
It looks like you.

Go look in the mirror. 
I know, right? It’s not tattooed on your forehead.
It’s not that obvious. 

Discipleship looks wholly (and holy) different person-to-person because it depends on how you wear it. It’s individual. Unique.

In Mark 12:29-31 Jesus gets asked: “Which commandment is the first of all?”
And he answers: “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 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.”

All those years ago, long before there is a church, The Way is a lifestyle. Hence the name. Christianity is a lifestyle first, before it’s “doctrine.” Before it’s a set of beliefs. 

Disciple is literally who you are. 

Sometimes I get the feeling that we don’t know what it is because we’re so caught up in it that we can’t see it anymore. Or we forget it. Or maybe we never did see it!

So, ask yourself two things:

“Do I love God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all my strength?” 

“Do I love my neighbor as much as I love myself?”

And then go and do likewise.
But what does it look like?

Here are some discipleship practices that might ring your bell: 

• Texting a friend to encourage them.
• Doing a devotional on your phone in spare moment.
• Wearing the mask and social distancing.
• Showing up for church on Facebook Live.
• Showing some kindness to the checker at ShopRite.
• Bringing soup for the Ecumenical Mission Group.
• Teaching your children to thank God before a meal. 

Just for instance. 

Discipleship looks just like you, made in the image of God, perfect in your imperfection. 
You can, but you don’t really have to think too hard about it. 
It just is.

God loves you first. Always in all ways. 
And you don’t do anything to “earn it.”
Just.
Be.
You.

Grace & Peace,
Scott