When Jesus walked among humankind there was a certain simplicity to being a disciple. Primarily it meant to go with him, in an attitude of study, obedience, and imitation. There were no correspondence courses. One knew what to do and what it would cost. - Dallas Willard
Willard laments that the modern Western World has not made discipleship a condition of being a Christian. Calling Christ the Lord of your life is optional.
Here I sit, 20 years into this Christian life, still wrestling with what it means to be a disciple. Calling myself a Christian without displaying it in my life is not an option. I fight hypocrisy fiercely. But there is an ocean to be explored and I have only splashed at the surface, with occasional deep dives. I want to be lost in its depths, astounded by its mysteries, and yet life happens where the air and water meet, where two worlds collide and tug at each other. Air pulling out water. Water pulling in air.
Three dirty pans still sit on the counter from yesterday's dinner and I want to close my Bible and go wash them. Wonderful books are at my fingertips in the evenings and I choose to watch a show that makes me dumber. My life intersects with people in need of kindness, comfort, prayer, and I am too busy to stop and minister.
A sweet little family of Jehovah's Witnesses stopped by yesterday. A kind father, an earnest mother, a little girl scratching at the ears of our dog. We chatted a bit in the stifling heat and they pointed out what we had in common as believers in Christ. While I don't agree with their interpretation of Scripture or their approach to evangelism, I had to admire their commitment and discipline to sharing their faith. Such encounters always makes me pause to evaluate my own commitments.
Study. Obedience. Imitation. Three simple concepts that truly can and ought to be woven into every mundane task before me. At once duty and devotion. My flesh leans hard toward spiritual laziness and apathy, but the Spirit within me uses all its resources to keep me awake, alive, vibrant, effective...and discipled.
Great post, Jill!
ReplyDeleteJust a quick piggy-back. Last summer in the dead-heat of the summer, two young men were going door-to-door in our neighborhood evangelizing. My husband was working outside in the yard and stopped to talk to them. The next thing I knew, he hollered in the house for me to get them a glass of ice water and they all sat down in the shade and chatted for quite a while. I was amazed and proud of my husband at the same time. We are very strong in our faith and would not consider a change, but my husband recognized the young men as doing what the Lord had called them to do. He asked me, "Wouldn't you want somebody to give you a cold drink of water on a 100 degree day?" Of course I would. He reminded me that while we may not evangelize door to door, he just showed Christ's love by offering the boys some shade, ice water, and Christian conversation.