Monday, August 25, 2008

Words of Encouragement

Jesus went up on the mountain.  Could it be that just getting away to the mountain makes you feel that much closer to the maker of the mountain?  It is a beauty to behold the majesty of the mountains that God took the time to carve out with his finger tip.

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:1-3

Discipleship. Grants You Wisdom. Jesus saw the crowd and scripture says he went up on a mountainside and sat down.  When he did, his disciples came to him and he began to teach them.  We are familiar with this scripture it is what we call the "Beatitudes".

Right now I want to reflect on the these few verses and what they mean to those that have accepted the call to be a disciple of Christ.  A disciple is one that accepts the teaching and instruction of a teacher/leader.  A disciple is one that is a follower, student, devotee or believer in the one that is leading.

In this instance that leader/teacher is Jesus.  His disciples have decided to follow him as his students, devoted to him and learning to believe in what he teaches.  This is one of those many instances where Jesus takes the time to teach his disciples. In this time there were many that had "followers", however how many can say they were following the right one?  The one sent by God?

Jesus would take the time in the midst of his teaching and traveling to explain things to his disciples.  They did not often understand the things Jesus was speaking so he did not turn them away, but addressed the issues that needed to be addressed with them and taught them.

Can you and I expect to receive the same today as a disciple of Jesus?  Yes we can.  As one that follows after Christ we too can receive of the wisdom of our master.  He has left first the evidence of his teaching as revealed in the Bible.  We also have the opportunity to be guided by the Holy Spirit.  We can gain the wisdom we need to be able to be successful in our walk as disciples of Christ.  God would not place us on a path that we could not win.

Today, let us thank God for the access we have through the Covenant relationship with him to gain of his wisdom.  We can grow in our understand and in the knowledge of our savior.