Posts Tagged ‘Praxis’

Many of us ask God for an assignment, or look hard to see where God is at work, but then hesitate or refuse to make necessary adjustments. Jesus exemplifies willingness to make an adjustment: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Other Biblical examples: Noah could not continue life as usual and build an ark at the same time (Gen 6); Abram could not stay in Ur or Haran and father a nation in Canaan (Gen 12.1-8); Moses could not stay on the back side of the desert herding sheep and stand before Pharaoh at the same time (Ex. 3); David had to leave his sheep to become a king (1 Sam. 16. 1-13); Amos had to leave the sycamore trees in order to preach in Israel (Amos 7.14-15); Jonah had to leave his home and overcome a major prejudice in order to preach in Nineveh (Jonah 1.1-2; 3.1-2; 4.1-11); Peter, Andrew, James, and John had to leave their fishing business in order to follow Jesus (Matt. 4.18-22); Matthew had to leave his tax collector’s boot to follow Jesus (Matt. 4-18-22); Saul (Paul) had to completely change directions in his life in order to be used of God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9.1-19).

Everything we do as followers of Jesus Christ - be it good or bad - can be traced back to one thing: discipleship. What does it really mean to be a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth? What does it really, really mean? The answer to that question will inform everything we do as Christians. Everything.