True-Discipleship (Photo credit: hearttoheartthoughts)

Soon, as our Pastor is leading us into a deeper understanding of Jesus’ command to all believers to be disciple-making disciples (Matthew 28), I hope to share from his wealth of knowledge so that others may invest in these life changing truths also.

With only one sitting behind us, I can already tell you that strange things are happening. By the way, that it seems strange is an indicator of how off base I have been living my life from Jesus’ expectation.

On the first night, we were asked to begin keeping a journal of our journey (if we’re not already doing so). The importance of a journal and its benefits were shared with us. Imagine my shock when the very next day at work a younger Christian friend asked me, “Do you know anything about journaling?” We had a neat conversation and I encouraged him invest in this very profitable discipline.

The story isn’t over though. He went to a book store and purchased a journal, but realized before using it, that he preferred a different version of journal available. He went back to the store and kindly asked if he could trade it for the other, to which she agreed was okay. Back at the counter, it was realized that the latter journal was five dollars less than the previous one he had chosen. Wanting to show his appreciation to the sales person, he told her she could keep the five dollars as a tip.

My friend tells me this lady displayed a very startled look by his offer. He thought her had offended her and began to apologize, but then she spoke, “There is a book on a shelf over there that I want really badly. I prayed this morning that God would provide a way for me to purchase it. The book costs exactly five dollars!”

Maybe I too often forget that God is always at work in His world. It is a very small thing for Him to manifest a chain reaction of meager efforts and meet His people’s needs. We need only be available vessels and intentionally engage ourselves in other’s lives as God opens opportunities, so that we see Him and experience His glory.

Our good friend Matt shared these words last night, “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf (2 Cor. 5:14-15).”