MEAT FOR MATURITY – DISCIPLESHIP

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” Matt. 25:23 (NIV). This is a tremendously encouraging promise because God is promising to reward all our efforts at following and loving him by letting us share in God’s happiness as well as share in his management of the universe. We will participate in the goodness of God and taste God himself. We will share in his radiant glory; we will be glorified in Christ (Rom. 8:17). This is a fulfillment of the kingdom of God, which God wants to give to his people. We only have part of the kingdom now, but then we will experience the whole kingdom of God. All our sacrifices, all our holiness, all our faithfulness will be more than rewarded by the greatest bliss possible. Continue Reading →

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” Matt. 19:29 (ESV). Jesus encourages us that God will reward us for sacrifices for Jesus. In the 1st century the extended family was all-important because it was your support network. Most people could not count on anyone else. Some people are in the same position today, though it is easier for many to leave their network of relatives if they wish. But the point of Jesus’ teaching is that making sacrifices for Jesus produces exponential blessings. When we follow Jesus we will have to leave behind the benefit of certain people and things in our life. It may be that friends or relatives reject us or that we will have less connection with them because our values are different. The Continue Reading →

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” Matt. 9:35 (NIV) This passage reminds us that Jesus brought the good news that the kingdom of God had come to earth and was now available to all people. Finally, 2,000 years after Abraham, God’s realm of reunion, peace and love had come to earth. What could be better news than this for planet Earth? And just in case anyone doubted whether Jesus really brought the kingdom he demonstrated the kingdom with power by healing diseases and sicknesses. This is the good news that we believe in and now taste. Since we are in the kingdom this same power is available to us now! Most importantly, the good news means God gives us the power to be like Christ, to have God’s image restored in Continue Reading →

“You are the light of the world . . . let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14, 16). Followers of Jesus provide the illumination of God’s goodness to the world. We are not darkness to them, and we are not affliction to them. God’s light radiates through us so that others can see who God is, what goodness is and how Jesus gives us inner happiness. It’s encouraging to remember that we have the privilege of being God’s light. His light indwells us so that if we abide in him we will naturally light up like a little sun and be a light of the world. And just as the sun creates a gravitational pull, others who seek good will gravitate in your direction. Are you encouraged by the idea that you are a light of the Continue Reading →