Discipleship - Come Follow Me (Part 2)

Matthew 4:18-20 (NIV) ¹⁸  As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.

When Jesus chose His disciples, it was rather out of the norm. Instead of the disciples requesting the Rabbi/Master to allow them into the disciple-rabbi relationship, Jesus went to the disciples. He invited them to be His disciples.

Picture this: Simon and Andrew were probably teenagers when Jesus approached them. They were in the trade of their father: Fishing. I want to suggest that they were not the best according to the world at that time. They were the average joes (maybe some of them were rejected by certain rabbis). If not, they would have advanced further in becoming someone with a higher status.

Then came Jesus and invited them “Come, follow me”. While the world did not believe them, Jesus did and chose them to be His disciples.  

There is also another thing about Jesus and His discipleship ‘program’. Instead of making our lives more difficult, His yoke (teaching) is easy and light. We can be His disciple and become like Him without striving.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB) ²⁸ "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. ³⁰ "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

“Yoke” is a common metaphor for the law, both in Judaism and in the NT (Acts 15:10; Gal 5:1). When Jesus invites the people with the words, “take my yoke upon you,” he invites them to follow his own teaching. His teaching, His interpretation of the law, is easy and light. It is in contrast to the requirements of the tradition of the Pharisees which are described as ‘heavy’.

One’s wanting to follow the commandments and the laws may led oneself to be weary and heavy-laden. It could be unnecessary requirements imposed by the teachers of the law. The way of the Pharisees at those time definitely cause the followers great burden and toil. Jesus, in contrast to them, has an easy and light load. It is not because the demands of Jesus is lesser (Mt 5:20). The reason is because He bears most of the load when we are walking and working together. He is the stronger ox.

This is great news for us. We can be Jesus’ disciples and become like Him. There is rest that we can find, even when we are in this disciple-rabbi/master relationship with Him.

What are we waiting for?

Follow Him and be like Him for He said “Come, follow Me”

Discipleship - Come Follow Me (Part 1)

Sea of Galilee

When we think of the word “discipleship”, not many of us are excited about it because we know that it is hard work and lots of discipline involved. Some may even shunned away from such topic. But discipleship is very important to our walk with Jesus as our eyes are fixed on Him this year. The word disciple occurs about 269 times in the New Testament.

During the days of Jesus, there were already the master-disciple relationships going on. Discipleship was not a new idea to them. After the child at the age of 6-10, finished his "Bet Sefer" or our primary school equivalent, he would proceed on to "Bet Talmud" (Secondary school) from 10-14. By the time, he finished these 2 levels, he would have memorized the entire Hebrew text (Genesis to Malachi).

What made them want to do so or to follow certain person? (They were inspired. They have the drive. They were going for the best to be the best) 

After the age of 13-14, the formal education stops. After this age, he would take on a trade. If the boy wanted to further his training in preparation for being a judge, teacher, scribe, head of synagogue or rabbi, he can further his study of the Torah in a small group or come under a certain scholar as his disciple. He would go and look for his master of choice and asked to be his disciple. But you must be one of the best, the cream of the crops and not the average joes because the master will only choose the best for himself. You must show to your master your knowledge, your diligence, your passion, your hunger and your commitment for him to accept you as a disciple. You must also have the mind and heart to take on the yoke of his teaching. Yes, the yoke of the teaching. It means his interpretation of the Scripture.

If you proved worthy to become his disciple, "Come, follow me.” And you would leave your family. You would leave your family compound. You would leave your village. You would leave the local synagogue where you had been studying. You would leave everything and you would follow that rabbi. You would become a disciple, a student. You would give your life to being exactly like that rabbi. And you would follow him everywhere.

As the disciples of Jesus Christ, I am wondering whether we have the same passion, hunger, commitment, understanding of Scripture and diligence as the Jewish teenagers pursuing to become like their rabbi/master. 

May we display the fervency and passion towards becoming like Christ.

23rd Jan 2015: Thoughts on Jubilee (Water and Sand)

Jubilee on the sand

I was at the beach yesterday and decided to write the word "Jubilee" on the sand.


And this is the lesson that I have learnt: When the tides rise, the words will be erased and be no more. Jubilee brings reset. When we allow the "Fulfilment of the Jubile - Jesus Christ" to work in our lives, we can see that our lives will be made 'new'. There will be a reset and we can go on with that new beginning.





  

Luke 4:21 (NASB) ²¹  And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB) ¹⁷  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

22th Jan (The Posture of humility receives grace and help)

The ball thrown will drop from a high place to a low ground. The water flowing will be from a higher plane to a lower plane. These 'lower' places are pictures of the posture of humility.

waterfall at En Gedi

When one humbles oneself to another, he can receive help from the another.
If one exalts himself and think that one knows it all or so full of himself, how can help be given to him? Most probably, he will reject the help given.

Therefore, it reminds us to remind humble before God and man. Lest Proverbs 16:18 comes true "¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling."

 James 4:6-10 (NASB) ⁶  But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." ⁷  Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹  Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Learn to rest in the Lord by doing His Work (Heb 4:10)

Hebrews 4:10 (NASB) ¹⁰  For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

The fishermen resting in the boat

God has promised us rest in various aspects (Physical, emotional, spiritual). Sometimes, we have ideas that "resting" means "not doing anything, sleeping, take a break and go for a holiday and so on". In some aspects, they are correct. But how do we really enjoy the rest that God has promised us? Such that when we are in the midst of our holidays or sleeping, we can enjoy enjoy the rest without thinking about our backlog of work, our future challenges, our current problems that we are putting on hold.

The principle: Complete the task or tasks that God has assigned you for the current season. Then we can truly rest.

While this may be difficult and challenging, let's learn to response and operate by faith (One of the themes in Hebrews). Let's not have unbelief and disobedient to the voice of Jesus. Instead, come to Him who promised us rest when we work with Him (Mt 11:28-30). He gives us mercy and grace to help in time of need. By faith, let's complete the task/s assigned to us.


Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB) ²⁸  "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. ³⁰  "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NASB) ¹⁴  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
 

16th Jan (Ways to Encounter God 2: Jesus)

There is no better way to encounter God through His Word. It is even better to look at Jesus, the Word of God.

Hebrews 1:1-4 (NASB) ¹  God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, ²  in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. ³  And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴  having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

While there are traditions and authorities which can reveal and help us encounter God, the author of Hebrews (writing to most probably the 2nd generation of Jewish Christians) challenge the readers to Jesus.

Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and exact representation of His nature. If we know Jesus, we know God.

The book of Hebrews will compare the prophets, the angels, Moses (the great leader), Joshua (the great general) and Aaron (the high priest) with Jesus. Each of them has a voice or word to be heard but it is not adequate. Jesus is the supreme one. He is better than the prophets, the angels, Moses, Joshua and Aaron.

While we may not have much problem accepting this truth that Jesus is better and greater, imagine this for the Jewish believers who had been raised up with these traditions and authorities. It may not be easy. Yet Hebrews states that Jesus is better and greater, even for their Jewish system of sacrifices.

What about us? Is Jesus superior than the things we hold on to? Can we accept that Jesus is the final Word?

Let our eyes be on Jesus and let's not allow doubt and unbelief to cloud our vision of Jesus. 

15th Jan 2015 (Ways to Encounter God 1)

I always enjoy sitting down to observe people.

I like to see how they react when they are in certain situation, whether they response positively or negatively to the situation. I like to hear their conversations (not that I am eavesdropping), whether their words are edifying or discouraging.

Out of these come many lessons of life. Out of processing those information can either sharpened our lives or caused us to be more negative or despair. However, the reflection is such that we are made in the image of God. When we see others, there are some likeness of God in them. The kindness, the goodness, the love, the patience, the creativity, helpfulness and so on.  Allow those good attributes to remind you of God and God's most precious creation.


Genesis 1:26-27 (NASB) ²⁶  Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." ²⁷  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Yes, there are also the ugly and negative side of us. This is due to the fallen nature. But thank God that He has redeemed us and is able to restore us back when we allow Him to.

Today, let's allow God to encounter us through others. At the same time, allow others to encounter God through us. 
 

8th Jan 2015...Coupon 2015 not 2014

This is a late post about parking coupons.

We are now in 2015. We are no longer in 2014. That was yesteryear.

In this year of Jubilee, there are provisions of His grace and resources available for us in 2015. But those provisions are like parking coupons. If it is not utilized, it is useless and the provision to park at the spot is not 'lawful'. Even if we tear the coupons to utilize it, yet we fail to indicate the correct timing. We will still consider unlawful to park.

Like the lesson of the parking coupon, let's appropriate the right anointing available for us in 2015. Let's learn from Jesus about God's timing and provision.
While others were debating and having their own views and reasoning, Jesus knew that the power to heal was there. He appropriated that for the paralyzed man. Let's learn from the author and perfector of our faith. "Eyes on Jesus".
 

Luke 5:17-26 (NASB) ¹⁷  One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. ¹⁸  And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. ¹⁹  But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.
²⁰  Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." ²¹  The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" ²²  But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? ²³  "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? ²⁴  "But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"—He said to the paralytic—"I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home."
²⁵  Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. ²⁶  They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen remarkable things today."

7th Jan 2015 Breakfast in the car

Box for storing food

The drive from the house to the school will usually take 20 minutes.
And Net has been eating her breakfast in the car. 

It helps that she eats food that I like: No extra preparation.

Anyway, the thoughts from this morning's devotion.

Luke 1:34-37 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

Mary's faith is lifted up partly of the possibility of Elizabeth's pregnancy. We have to show our younger generation that it is possible with God so that their faith can be lifted up.

6th Jan 2015 : Time is a commodity that cannot be bought

When she was 4...

Today, the girl chose to walk into the school all by herself.
What a time 'flies' type of feeling. She was just 4 and now going to be 7 soon.
Time is a commodity that cannot be bought. It must be well spent.
We either invest it well or we waste it.
God has given to everyone a number of years on earth and we will be accountable for it.
Make good use of our time to build someone' else, encourage someone, love someone, impact someone, pray for someone, give Life to someone...

Ask God to teach us to make good use of our days. Jesus is our coach and guide. He will.

Psalm 90:10-12 (NASB) ¹⁰  As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years... ¹²  So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.