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His Disciples
by Steve Troxel (Steve's bio)
[Note: If you'd like to read more from Steve, be sure to visit God's Daily Word.]
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After Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, "He appeared to them {the apostles} over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3). One of the last commands He gave the apostles was to "go and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19). A disciple is one who believes in the forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus, AND who determines to follow where He leads.
Jesus said the process of becoming a disciple was learning to "obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:20). As we search the gospels, we find many of His commands. But the one with the greatest impact on the world around us is the command to love.
John 13:34-35
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."
"As I have loved you." This phrase rips at our heart. Jesus died for us "while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8). Even though there was nothing in us to deserve His love, He gave His life. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). This is the level of love we are called to demonstrate to one another.
We are called to a sacrificial love - a love that gives. We must be prepared to give our time, our tears, our understanding, and even our material resources when necessary. We must love enough to rejoice when others rejoice, but also enough to hurt when others hurt - and enough to forgive simply because Jesus first forgave us.
Notice that our love for others is the one sure way of telling the world we are followers of Christ. Our love for others becomes an act of worship because, through love, we are boldly declaring: Jesus is Lord! As we love - even when others may not "deserve" our love - we actively show the world the joy and peace found only in Jesus.
The world is overflowing with people who need love - people who have run out of hope, longing for someone to let them know they care. That someone is us! We must reach out to one another with a love that defies all worldly wisdom or understanding. We must love as Jesus loved us. This love will be used to work miracles; this love will bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father; this love will show the world that we are His disciples.
Copyright 2001, Steve Troxel. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
| About Steve Troxel: Steve Troxel is the President of God's Daily Word Ministries. Steve was trained as an Electrical Engineer and received his PhD in 1994. After working as a researcher in a laser laboratory for several years, Steve felt the call from God to leave his trained profession and enter into full-time ministry. His devotionals are now sent around the world via email as well as distributed in book format. More information about this ministry as will as a "sign-up" page can be found at: http://www.godsdailyword.org |
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