Does Your Christianity Include You? [Discipleship]

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 “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23, NLT

Sometime I feel like things should be different. When I made the decision to follow Christ I operated on the assumption that things would just change. I had a lot of problems but also now had a remarkable savior.

And I still do. Fundamentally things became new. My sins were forgiven and I knew that Jesus Christ died for me.

However I failed to realize that I would sin daily. I guess I thought otherwise. As a matter of fact I became even more aware of my depravity than ever. My sins are of omission and commission and they are many. The Holy Spirit’s convicting ministry worked inside my heart.

Does your Christianity include you?

Too often I think we expect holiness to be instantaneous. We wanted a complete eradication of the bad and a dramatic new change in the good. And to a certain extent that has happened.

I now believe that our walk of disciple is more like– “two steps forward, and one step back.” Sometimes its even “one step forward and two steps back.” It can be discouraging to say the very least.

The probable reality is that discipleship is not really an instant epiphany but a gradual transformation. But that doesn’t make it a lesser miracle!

As I survey my life, I discover I sinned more after I received Christ than in my life before. Perhaps the measure of discipleship isn’t the quantity of sin but the quality of our faith.

I daily come to Jesus with my sin. I have to live in repentance every day. The miracle is that I experience the daily infilling of my heart with the Holy Spirit. When I wait on Him He comes and fills me up.

I run into issues when I don’t:

  • confess my sin
  • refuse to change
  • don’t wait on God for help
  • live out the promises in God’s Word

As a believer in Jesus I will be transformed by Him. I don’t want to pretend that I need Him daily. I am slowly being changed by the Gospel, I may struggle but He holds my heart.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23, NASB

ybic, Bryan

 

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Author: Pastor Bryan Lowe

A repentant rascal with definite issues, but who is seeking to be authentic in his faith to Jesus Christ. An avid reader and a hopeful writer. Husband and father. A pastor and Bible teacher. A brain tumor survivor. Diagnosed with clinical depression, and now disabled. Enjoys life, such as it is, in Alask.a (Actually I have it pretty good.)

3 thoughts on “Does Your Christianity Include You? [Discipleship]”

  1. Amen. Days that you can get away from work and the noise of life and spend with God are days where you can have rest from sin. But yes, there’s every other day that you live in the noise and sound. However, even when we sin and “our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knows all things” (1Jn. 3:20). God knows those who don’t want to sin and when they do sin knows why they sinned and pardons their sins, knowing the sin nature and the wounds and weaknesses that caused them to sin:

    “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He KNOWS our frame; He REMEMBERS that we are dust” (Ps. 103:10-14, NKJV).

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  2. here’s a good word from Scotty Smith . . . think it applies!

    If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:32-36 (ESV)

    Dear Lord Jesus, I need to meditate on this Scriptures regularly, because there are few portions of the Word that are more “daily” and necessary than this one. First and foremost, I’m stunned by what I already know to be true: “God is kind to the ungrateful and evil.” I know this to be true, because my Father is über kind to me—every day, in a multitude of ways. I’d hate to be judged on the basis of my ingratitude, because I can complain and carp about anything.

    And my evil thoughts (no exaggeration) show up in the form of envy for what others have and are; pride over who I think I am and what I deserve; revenge towards others who have “dissed” or hurt me; and lust for pleasure and comfort outside your will and provision. Jesus, I can’t throw stones at anyone. I just throw myself upon the mountain of your mercy, as this day begins.

    So in response to God’s great love for me, help me love the ungrateful and fellow-evil people in my world. Grant me quick repentances when I judge others harshly; plenty of mercy to share; more awe of your love for me than irritation over the ways people disappoint me; and compassion rather than reaction, towards fellow sinners. You are my reward, Jesus. Help me to love well in this one day the way you love us everyday. So very Amen I pray, in your kind and exalted name.

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