What is a disciple of Christ? How do we become one? How do we make them?
The Apostle writes to a people he has never met in a place he has never visited and he shares his heart to them regarding who they are and how they should live. These Christians at Colossae were under threat from false teachers who were insisting that following Christ was not enough. They were confused as to whether or not their salvation experience was enough. Were they true disciples?
Over this next week I intend to be very brief but to highlight one aspect of discipleship that the Apostle mentions in response to what he has heard.
He has been praying that they may know the will of God for their lives through the lens of being confident in Christ, loving others and their hope of heaven. He now goes further “… so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way” (1 v 10)
Yesterday I made a call to my godson who is training to be a vicar and I ended the conversation with the same thing I say to my own children constantly, “I’m proud of you.”
Now apparently there are people who don’t like to hear this and are actually offended by it as if hearing it means they are less than the individual saying it. That it was some patronising remark. “I’m proud of you losing weight” meaning ‘”you really needed to.”
Why do we have to twist some of the most beautiful encouraging sayings into negative comments?
The Apostle says if you want to know you are a disciple of Christ then you are going to live your life in such a way that it pleases Him.
“I’m proud of you. I see myself in you. I am pleased to be connected to your life. I am honoured to be associated with you. My name is comfortably resting on you.”
No pressure then!
How do we live that kind of life?
The Apostle has already told them in the previous verse, “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives so that …”
Here is the prayer that drives this thought home:
“Holy Spirit help me today to live my life in such a way that Jesus is proud of me. I cannot do it alone. I need you to do that work in me. Amen”
Missions Paul 