Disciple

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

In the NIV “teach the nations” is replaced with “make disciples of all nations”. I came from a church background which did not make disciples of one another. The last church I attended focused on the gifts and ministry training. Clarity and understand of what discipleship meant wasn’t part of my experience.

When you think of a synonym for disciple what one word comes to mind? Believer, follower, student are common thoughts. I can say you are justified in giving that and perhaps other answers to the question. Let me give you one more thought, one more alternative to ponder.

Adhesive.

Deuteronomy 4:4 But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

From these verses can you see why I might think adhesive? I am stuck on Jesus, but as a disciple if I am not sticky as adhesive is sticky, then I am nothing but a post-it note in a book.

Enlightened

Job 29:11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

Do you dream? Are your eyes closed when you dream? So how is it that you can see and hear without the use of your eyes and ears? Do not give credit to your memory because we have dreams that have no basis in reality. We dream of things that have not happened.

So you give credit to your wonderfully designed brain. The brain is capable of creating dreams. No light required to see. Not much of a stretch to believe. When we get ideas, we sometimes jokingly envision a light bulb being turned on. We think of it as being enlightened. Our understanding comes out of the darkness into the light as the truth “dawns” on us.

What if I were to say that the spirit can generate visions much like the brain does? Is that too far a stretch of the imagination? How about listening without your ears? Can you hear the spirit?

You do not dream while you are awake. There are too many things interfering with the process. There is so much information for the brain to process, dreaming stops being a process of the brain.

How about the spirit? What interrupts the awareness of the spirits vision and hearing? Same thing as the brain. We become preoccupied with sensory input. We pay attention to the strongest source of awareness. So how do we see and hear the spirit?

Psalm 46:10a Be still, and know that I am God:

It takes a force of will to quiet your brain, to be still.

Daily Christian Devotionals