Subject:
GDW 12-10-01 [A Life of Discipleship]
A Life
of Discipleship
When
Jesus told His closest followers,
"Go and make disciples of all nations,"
(Matthew 28:19), He wasn't just talking
about the one-time event
of Salvation; He was referring to the
life-long process of "teaching
them to obey everything I have
commanded." (Matthew 28:20).
This
process of discipleship begins prior to
Salvation and continues through
the rest of our life as we are
"conformed to the likeness of His Son."
(Romans 8:29).
Jesus
told a parable of a farmer who scattered
seed on different types of
soil. He then explained the parable to
His disciples.
Mark
4:14-20
"The
farmer sows the word. Some people are
like seed along the path, where
the word is sown. As soon as they hear
it, Satan comes and takes away
the word that was sown in them.
Others,
like seed sown on rocky places,
hear the word and at once receive it
with joy. But since they have no
root, they last only a short time. When
trouble or persecution comes
because of the word, they quickly fall
away.
Still others, like seed
sown among thorns, hear the word; but
the worries of this life, the deceitfulness
of wealth and the desires for other
things come in and choke
the word, making it unfruitful.
Others,
like seed sown on good soil,
hear the word, accept it, and produce a
crop."
Praise
God for those who are sowing the word -
for the seed will never germinate
without someone who sows (Romans 10:14).
However, receiving the
word, or even its initial growth, is NOT
Salvation!
Receiving the word
and being initially excited about its
meaning is a blessed time, but
without proper nourishment and
protection - without some form of discipleship
- the received word will never produce
fruit.
Discipleship
leads those who receive the word to a
true understanding of:
"Whoever believes in Him shall not
perish but have eternal life."
(John
3:16). Discipleship then helps our roots
go deep and provides water
for sustained growth; it teaches how to
recognize and eliminate the
thorns which choke and kill.
We must
commit to being discipled through
reading God's Word, seeking Him in
prayer, receiving biblical teaching, and
being in fellowship with other
believers.
We must also search for seeds
which are beginning to grow
and encourage through discipleship as
they "come to a knowledge of the
truth." (1 Timothy 2:4).
Let's
reach up to our Heavenly Father and
reach out to those He places in our
path.
The world is searching and the
seed is being sown; let's nurture
and encourage - instruct and apply. The
planted seed will only produce
fruit and live to bring Him glory and
honor as each of us commits
to a life of discipleship.
Have a
Great Day!
Steve
Troxel
God's
Daily Word Ministries
**********************************
Here is another comment from Steve
Troxel on this parable.