The Disciple

Scripture: Luke 6:40 (ESV)

⁴⁰ A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Devotion:

            Today we consider what it is like to be a disciple of Jesus in our modern society. We will begin by looking at what it must have been like for those first disciples who followed Jesus throughout his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. The first disciples did not know what they were getting into. There was no job interview. Just a stark call to “come follow me.” The amazing thing is that they did drop everything they were doing and followed this itinerant teacher. They must have had to put up with difficult living conditions. And they faced strong opposition from their friends and family.

            These first disciples learned much from their teacher. They were found ministering to the poor, the widow, and the orphan. They also received power from on high to heal the sick, get rid of oppressive demons, and even raise the dead. Most of all they learned that Jesus loved them, and they were to love those they met with that same kind of open handed, generous love they had seen modeled by Jesus. Most of them would never have to worry about a pension plan or what to do in their old age as they would like their teacher would not survive into old age. Giving their life for their teacher and his message.

            So, those first disciples taught those who would come after them. The chain of disciple becoming the teacher who taught the disciple would continue down through the millennia. Even so today we who are older are to be teaching the younger the way of Jesus. Most of our lives have changed quite a bit since Jesus' day. In most places in the west today you will not find yourself being killed for your faith. However, the persecution of believers is starting even here at home. It may cost you something to follow Jesus today. We are beginning to feel like those first disciples. The world no longer wants to hear the story of Jesus.

            We find ourselves in trouble for insisting that men are men and women are women. We are looked down upon if we claim that unborn children deserve a chance at life. Even what used to be the most common-sense thing of all that criminals should be made to pay for their crimes is attacked every day. What is a disciple of Jesus to do amid this confusion and lawlessness? Just keep teaching the truth about Jesus is always the answer. Our message is not one of condemnation and hatred, but of love and forgiveness. We teach others as our master taught us. That through our teaching the sick would be healed, the orphan would be adopted, the widow would be taken care of, and the poor would have good news preached to them. Let us pray that we will be faithful teachers.

Prayer:

            Lord hear our cry to you this day. Help us to be good teachers of the faith to those who want to believe in you. Let us disciple both the young and the old. Let us do good to all who are oppressed, or unwanted by society. May the love of Christ be clearly seen in our actions and words. May we be dedicated to the cause of Christ no matter what the cost. Amen.