![]() But maturity is the relentless pursuit of knowing and doing His will. In this life as sinful, fallen creatures in a sinful, fallen world we will never completely obey Jesus. They say, “I have been a church member for sixty two years” which being interpreted in their minds means “I am a mature Christian.” There are countless other self-serving ways to define a mature disciple or mature Christian. Others define maturity in terms of longevity. For many a mature disciple is one who keeps the rules they think are important. Many today seek to define “mature disciple” in their own way. He said to the Romans, “God whom I serve with my whole heart…” (Romans 1:9) In other words, mature disciples serve Jesus. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Luke 16:13) Paul modeled what we are to do as Christ-followers. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Jesus made it clear that mature disciples are undivided in their serving God. Satan knows it’s no use to continue to seduce us when we clearly understand that mature Christians serve God. ![]() While contending with Satan during his wilderness temptation Jesus brought an end to the encounter by declaring, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” When Jesus affirmed his belief that he was to serve God and God only, Satan knew the battle was lost and he withdrew leaving Jesus alone in the desert. “Fear the LORD your God, serve him only…” Throughout the Old Testament and into the New, there is a theme – serious disciples serve God in all they do. In other words, mature disciples obey Jesus.Ī second theme that clearly points to what it means to be a mature disciple is first found in Deuteronomy 6:13. People who demonstrate they are Christ-followers by consistently obeying him. More than anything else he wants obedient disciples. He could have given a lengthy list of characteristics but he gave just one, simple qualifier. Our first clue is found in the Great Commission itself. What kind of disciple should we be as individual Christians? And what kind of disciples are we to make? Now if our mission is to make disciples, it is imperative for us to know what a “made disciple” looks like. He commanded us, “In your going, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” So for Christians, individually or collectively as the church, our mission is simple and clear. On another occasion Churchill put it this way, “If you’re going through Hell, keep going.” Whether you see that admonition as humorous or serious, the message is the same – persevere!Īs Christians, our mission is simple and Jesus was crystal clear about it. He stood before them and said, “Never, never, never give up” and then sat down. His simple, often repeated message was summed up in a speech delivered to a group of students at one of England’s most prestigious boy’s schools. While many things needed to be done to in order to survive the attacks and win the war, Churchill wisely narrowed his messages to the people down to the bare essential thing from which all the other things would flow. The relentless barrage of bombs was eroding the spirit and resolve of the English people. London was under siege from the German Luftwaffe. General Colin Powell once said, “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers.”ĭuring England’s darkest days in World War II, Winston Churchill demonstrated that truth. Now taking something complex and making it simple enough for even a child to understand is a fine art practiced by way too few people. It takes no real talent to take the simple and make it sound complex.
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