A Believer or A Disciple

After Moses died, God said to Joshua (who had been Moses’ aide), “My servant, Moses, is dead. You and the rest of the people get ready RIGHT NOW to cross the Jordan River into the land that I am giving to them – my chosen people, the Israelites. I am the One who will give you every place where you go, just as I promised Moses. The land you will conquer will be from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great Euphrates River (Hittite country) to the Mediterranean Sea. Your enemies will not be able to stand against you. I promise you this throughout your life. I will be with you and never leave you just as I was with Moses.” Joshua 1:1-6 (my paraphrase)

I was brought up in a loving home where going to church was part of the week just like going to school. There never was a question of “Are we going to church today?”. There had to have been at least a foot of snow on the ground that fell just the previous night or my temperature had to be over 100 degrees before not going to church was discussed. I went to a parochial school the first eight years and I learned my catechism well enough to pass. The people in the Bible were like characters in any good story and church was a ritual to be watched and, more often as I grew older, to be endured. Faith was something that my parents lived not something they discussed. I had many questions but grew up in a time where questions did not seem to be welcomed. And so I drifted away into my own way of doing things.

I came back when I had children. Many people do. I think when your child is placed in your arms for the first time – you get a clue about just how much you don’t know! I was 40 years-old when I finally admitted that I needed a savior. I was a proud, successful woman and I knew in my heart that I was “wretched” (miserable, pitiful). So – I gave up my way and believed in Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord. I was a Believer. That wasn’t enough. I made a conscious decision to be a Disciple of Jesus Christ.

A disciple has a relationship with God like Joshua, and Moses before him, had. Look at how God speaks to Joshua. Joshua is no better or worse than me. He was a slave in Egypt. He was a stonecutter. And yet God ‘called’ Joshua to be a leader. He speaks the unvarnished truth to Joshua. “Your leader is dead. He isn’t coming back to you. Now it’s time for you to step up and do what I tell you. Get moving!”

A disciple has a day-to-day, moment-to-moment relationship with God. A disciple is loved by God like David and Elijah and John and Paul. A disciple is disciplined by God like David and Elijah and John and Paul.

Being a Believer in Jesus Christ will get me into heaven, but being a Disciple of Jesus Christ allows me glimpse heaven while still here on earth.

My friends, do not be shocked at the painful sufferings you are going through here on earth. It should not be strange to you that these things occur. Be glad that you join in the same suffering that Jesus went through when He was here so that when His glory and triumph over evil is shown – you are there for that also! 1 Peter 4:12-13 (my paraphrase)

A Believer or a Disciple – or Both!