I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.
The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
Genesis 18:20-19:38
Abraham, as a disciple, was invited to chime in concerning the destruction of Sodom. For Abe the issue was saving Lot, but also understanding the Lord. What are your observations here regarding the Lord's answers? What do you learn about God through this whole interaction? If you got to talk to the Lord, for coffee, who would be on your heart?
In Sodom, the angels, obviously, were never in danger. This was a testing of Lot and the people. In order to see what is in us, as disciples, or to form convictions and resolve in us for the harvest, God can allow us to go through some pretty hairy things.
I will never understand why Lot was willing to throw his daughters out the door to this mob. But I guess, better not to judge.
In this sordid tale of woe, the effects of living in Sodom are evident in Lot and his family. Lot had no credibility with the people, and his sons-in-laws just laughed. I wonder how many Christians are in the same situation. If they suddenly realized the danger and went to those they've known for years and said, "Hey, listen," if because of how they've lived their lives and things they've said and done, wouldn't be laughed out of the room.
Lot's wife was punished, and though we don't totally understand what happened, she must have rebelled inwardly. The Lord was saving them and must have had a reason for what He did to her. And the daughters seem utterly bankrupt spiritually and morally. This was Lot's legacy, all for the comforts of living in Sodom.
As disciples, if we live for Christ, with our treasure in heaven, those around us have a better chance of catching fire with true faith, than if we blend in. Following as a disciple means doing the work of following and reaching out. To attend services and gripe at the table about how sinful things are, while all the time enjoying the good things of a lost world, is not being a disciple. Farmers farm. Harvesters harvest. Disciples disciple.
Matthew 6:25-7:14
6:25-34 As disciples, this is to be our truest heart and attitude in working for and following Christ in this harvest. This world is not our home. We're not "just passing through," but are here on assignment. And the only way you learn this is to follow Christ as a disciple in the harvest. At this point Jesus and the twelve had all given up their careers and were being sustained financially by the "coincidences" (people who got healed who decided to help) that happened to them along the way. The twelve hadn't been sent out yet, but living with Jesus, they saw it was possible to serve God in making disciples and to rely on His care and not lose weight. This is something for us to learn, too.
7:1-14 As you read this section, and before you read my comments below, try to put these thoughts together into flow of thought meant for you as a disciple. It seems like Matthew/the Spirit is leaving out some important bridges between thoughts. Maybe the reason the Spirit is doing this is the same reason Jesus spoke in parables, that is, those who are really interested and work to understand (those who have) will get the meaning, and will get more, while those who have not, don't really care, have more important things to do, …and why finish the thought? And then there is that little word "seek", which means to.., but again, why finish the thought, but you will if you want to.
Jesus teaches His disciples not to judge. We are all under sin and sick with sin. Without God's help we are all diseased and lost. Paul says it to the Corinthians, "For who sees anything different in you? What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?" I hate it when Christians "live their righteousness and faith" criticizing Christians who don't agree with them and who trumpet the sin of the lost and bash Obama. How blind and pathetic and unworthy of Christ. We live in a lost world. We were lost. As disciples making disciples we are to be humble in the grace we've received and reach out to help others find Christ and follow Him.
So, Jesus warns His disciples about not being humble and fully involved in removing logs from their own eyes. Jesus knew it would be a temptation to be focused on criticizing others. A disciple can't help others grow in faith, when they, themselves, have a critical attitude. They can't help people come to the place of dealing with removing harmful things from their lives, unless they themselves are willing to do the same in their own lives.
I remember a line from a tape by Howard Hendricks, "So I'm sitting across from this guy with his deep-seated alcoholism and I say to him, 'The Spirit would be happy to move in and help you take control,' but I can't control my time, I can't control my money, I can't control my appetite. Friend, I'm no better off than he is. We both need the same message." Where is your "log" that will destroy your credibly in your own heart and before others in making disciples? And if you understand this properly, it isn't an issue of any particular log, it is the life lived before Christ, openly humble, growing and grateful.
But it is not as if Jesus is saying don't help others. He's saying to do it with humility and integrity, not as a critic and judge, but as a fellow disciple dealing with yourself before Christ. We are to be there to help others remove the speck.
But not in all cases. There is a kind of unbelief where Jesus says, "Just walk away." This is good for a disciple to know. We are not to witness to everyone, because not everyone is ready. This is not a suggestion, it is a command, but this command and the understanding of "who art the dog" and "who art the swiine" is best understood by the humble, "non-judging," "log removing," "helping others," disciple. The self-righteous and self-absorbed see dogs and pigs everywhere.
Jesus seems to be saying, that instead of a hard combative attitude seeking to reach people, we, as disciples, are to be in a constant mode of asking, seeking and knocking. I apply these to reaching out and making disciples, not getting stuff for ourselves. This might also apply to needs we have as we are following Christ, but I really think it is silly to assume that this command is just for our needs, as if our only purpose on this earth is to eat and wear clothes and stay alive. This command is meant to give us the confidence to follow in the harvest.
Verse 12, so knowing that the Lord has our back in reaching out, we are to be open and generous to pour your life into the lives of others. Loving your neighbor sums up the law and the prophets. (Romans 13:8-14, 15:2)
Therefore as a disciple, make sure you are living a life that has the strain and difficulty of reaching the lost and making disciples who make disciple. If your walk as a believer is easy, you may be on the wrong road. All of us have the strains of life, relationships, breaking cars, failing health, etc…. Being a disciple is more than life maintenance, but for many, that is all their faith helps them do, and that is how Satan pins them down, worried about the needs of life and living. We have faith and strength for the harvest and in the harvest we find more faith, strength, joy and purpose than we realized we'd have, but it's work and there's sweat and there's strain. In World War 2 my dysfunctional relatives became functional because they were no longer living lost, self-absorbed, dysfunctional lives, but were involved in the battle and the battle gave them health and purpose. The war was hard and they would never have chosen the war, but they were called to it. They became lost again when the war was over. I really think the Lord knows what He's doing with His disciples. The harvest is hard and disciple making is a battle, but following Christ brings health and purpose to His dysfunctional followers (disciples).
Psalm 8
Isn't it amazing to think that this awesome, amazing, infinitely powerful God loves us and invites us to work with Him to make His love known? What a thought, that He would choose such foolish, weak, dysfunctional things to love and honor. Satan certainly had a hard time with verse 5, causing him to trip over his own beauty and pride. "What? Serve those ugly little things, when I'm so cool?" In thinking about the lost, we'd never say that, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CBNE25rtnE
Proverbs 2:6-15
You read this and then reflect back over the OT portion for today and you know why Abe was one way and Lot another, why one was blessed and why one ruined his life.
As disciples, we are being offered so much as we, if we, follow Christ. John15.
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