Work

Does God want us to be successful in our occupations? Should business success be one of our goals? What is success and does it look differently to the christian versus the secular person? I submit that Christ calls us to discipleship. This is all consuming. A leader in the church of Jesus Christ is a follower of Him. The cost of discipleship is forsaking all things, hating those around us in comparison to Him and being willing to die for Him (Luke 14:26-33). He is the provider of all that we have here and in eternity. He is the protector of our reputation and the giver of our earthly positions. He sets up kings and tears them down. We are called to work at everything as if working for the Lord and not for men (Col 3:23). That means every activity, every thought, and every moment is to be His...set apart to Him and sacred. We are to do our best ...not to achieve or gain material wealth or prestige but because he calls us to do our best. Success is obedience to God. Obedience to God and discipleship may lead us to a life with riches and tremendous influence and earthly responsibility or it may lead us to the life of a pauper who labors in obscurity. Both are successful based on the scriptures.

Reputation

Jesus says if we wish to be his disciples we must be willing to forsake all (Luke 14:25-33). This most obviously includes material things but more subtly might include our health, our relationships, our position and our reputation. I think of this as meaning forsake all for the kingdom of God and consider it in the sense that an occurance may come into my life where I am called to give things up for the obvious benefit of the kingdom of God. But what if the benefit to the kingdom is not obvious? What if one's reputation is damaged through outside forces beyond one's control? Or what if an honest mistake leads to the damaging of a reputation? Our inner response to a loss such as this demonstrates whether we are willing to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. For God would say that everything good that we have is from him and not of ourselves (James 1:17). Our material things, jobs, money, health and reputations are given and protected by him. Everything we have is his to take away. This needs to be considered in light of other scriptures of course. God says he will work all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). He says he loves us and has an inheritance in heaven for us as his adopted children (1 John 3:1; 1 Pe 1:4; Romans 8:15). He says we will have trouble in this world, but that he has overcome the world (John 16:33). The question is when the rubber hits the road and I suffer loss will I in bitterness and anger against God struggle with my faith? Or will I rest in his promises and allow myself to be humbled for his glory, even if I do not understand why circumstances have occurred? Certainly, the former is a manifestation of unbelief...unbelief in God's word and promises or his character or his existence. Paul had learned to be content in all circumstances recognizing these things and giving thanks to God (Phil 4:11). Thanksgiving and gratefulness is the heart of the believer sold out to God. Thanksgiving and gratefulness in spite of earthly circumstances (1 Thes 5:13). For we have the "pearl of greatest price" guaranteed in our future (Matt 13:46). Do I really believe it? Can I say with Job: "Naked I came into the world, and naked I shall depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord?"

Salt

“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. "
--Lk 14:34-35--

A disciple of Jesus Christ is a student of him, seeking to learn his ways and to become like him. Obviously, the first steps of this process include hearing the gospel, accepting it and trusting in Christ as one's savior. Jesus then says to believers: go and make disciples of all people groups, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit and teaching them to be obedient to His commands (Mt 28:19). A disciple is called to love God more than any person on earth (Lu 14:26), to sacrifice his will to the will of God (Lu 14:27) and to be willing to give up material and non material possessions for God (Lu 14:33). One question that has arisen in my mind is can one be a believer and not be a disciple? I don't know the answer to this, but I suspect that a believer does not have to be a disciple. The churches of our nation seem to be filled with such individuals; those who go to church on Sunday but are indistinguishable from unbelievers otherwise (myself included at times). A disciple becomes like his teacher, and as Jesus drew people to himself, so also the disciple of Christ should by his example draw people to God. The disciple of Jesus is salty to a watching world. He is seasoning, flavor and a preservative. Walt Henrichsen in Disciples Are Made And Not Born makes the point that Jesus is using seasonless salt as a metaphor for the believer that is not a disciple. One who believes in Christ and yet is not a disciple is useless to the master and worthy of being thrown away. Terrifying words. Yet the poor witness of a professing believer that is not a disciple to the world and the glory not given to God because of his example make Jesus' words ring true. The question I personally must ask myself is..... am I a disciple of Jesus Christ, and if so, what am I doing to make disciples for the King of kings?

Scripture Memory

"The practice of scripture memory is more important than a daily quiet time, for as we fill our minds with great passages of the Bible and have them available for our meditation, quiet time takes over the entirety of our lives." --Dallas Willard, The Great Omission.

Scripture memory seems to increase my ability to practice the presence of God. In the circumstances of life, the Word I have committed to memory bubbles up from inside at the calling of the Spirit of God (Jn 14:26) to remind me of who He is and of my position in Christ. God tells us to memorize scripture (Josh 1:8), and knowing scripture is mandatory if we are to be obedient to Gods commands (Jn 14:21). God gives understanding of his Word over time if we look to his Spirit as the teacher of the it's meaning (Jn 14:26, Ps 119:18). I sometimes find quiet times difficult, and to me, it is reassuring to note that working on scripture memory during dry times can be profitable.

A Disciple

The words of Jesus regarding the prerequisites of being his disciple:

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33

Discipleship

Observations Based on Below Study--
1) A disciple of Jesus is a student striving to learn his ways and adhere to his commands. This requires the study of Jesus teachings (scripture) and trust in his commands (faith) manifested in obedience.
2) A disciple of Jesus is willing to give up all things, including life itself, for him.
3) The outside world recognizes a disciple of Jesus by their love for others and by the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).
4) We are called to teach people all over to become disciples of Jesus Christ. (Note: the NIV says go and make disciples, but the KJV says go and teach).

Matthew 28:18-20--
Mat 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Mat 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary *
--one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.
--a convinced adherent of a school or individual.

Easton's Dictionary: **
Disciple: A scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Mat_9:14), and of the Pharisees (Mat_22:16), but principally to the followers of Christ. A disciple of Christ is one who

(1.) believes His doctrine,
(2.) rests on His sacrifice,
(3.) imbibes His spirit, and
(4.) imitates His example

Strong's Information:
--make disciples=teach in KJV=matheteou (math-ayt-yoo-o) in Greek
--to become a pupil;
--to disciple, that is, enrol as scholar;
--be disciple, instruct, teach
--translated in other nt verses as instructed, teach, disciple in KJV
--mathetes (math-ay-tes): a learner, pupil, disciple. Used in Mat 22:16, Mat 9:14 to describe followers of Pharisees and John the Baptist respectively. See below verses of interest which are all this particular word.

Verses of Interest:
Mat 10:24,25: "A student (disciple, mathetes) is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master..." (also Luke 6:40).

Luke 14:26,27: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

Luke 14:33: "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

John 8:31: Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples."

John13:35: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 15:8: This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples
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* Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary
**M. G. Easton, M.A., D.D.; Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1897.