Daily discipleship – by Basson Nel
In Lk.9:23 Jesus said: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
So, I have to ask myself: “What do I do with this – how do I do this?”
I actually sat down and took pen and paper, writing notes to myself on how I hope to make adjustments to my everyday living to embrace what I believe – turning values into reality.
I obviously came up with 10 points, which I will share with you, but which comes with one huge warning:
These are not to be turned into a legalistic formula – ten ticks to heaven! Nor are they a set of spiritual New Year’s resolutions!
At best these are 10 helpful and practical pointers, never to become the New Ten Commandments, because if we turn them into that, it will once again bring death, and no life or joy, or intimacy of relationship will flow from it!
I ask myself: “Today, have I:
Connected with God in Prayer?”
The reality is that it is not possible to have any relationship without communication.
And since Christianity is a relationship and not a religion, the same is true for our relationship with God – it cannot remain healthy, unless we communicate regularly and effectively.
This is why I ask whether I have connected with God in prayer today, and not simply “Did I pray?”, or even worse “Did I say a prayer?!”
Have we connected, have we touched down, have we made contact, do I feel that I have had a meaningful encounter with the God of heaven and earth?
This does not refer to those brief prayers throughout the day – when we pray for protection over our children as we drop them off at school, or for wisdom before enter a meeting – it refers to deep calling to deep, to the reality of intimacy with God through the presence of the Holy Spirit in my prayer time.
Knowing that I can live the day intentionally and with impact; not merely face the day, because I am tuned into a heavenly frequency.
Found God in the Scriptures?”
There is probably no more basic spiritual advice than to “read your Bible and pray every day”.
This is definitely what Paul would have referred to as “milk” – absolute Christian basics, but without these foundational values, we cannot dream of starting to build.
Truth does not change, scripture does not change, the gospel does not change, because God does not change, God is truth – His word is truth and this is primarily where His will for us is to be found.
Again, it’s not just about reading the word of God every day (this is why “daily readers” are often dangerous and unhelpful), but it’s about finding God, His will, His ways, His nature, His plans, purposes and desires for me personally in the verses of what I read.
I ask myself “So what?” after I have read something – meaning:
“So what has to change, so how does this impact me, so what did I learn from this, so how do I apply this, so where to from here?
Because, un-applied revelation turns into religion!
James 1:22 “ Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Finding God in the Scriptures means to find life in Scripture, to find truth, to find answers – to find God and to know Him!
Encouraged a fellow believer?”
This is a good “habit” to develop – making it priority to phone, visit, or sms a fellow believer to encourage them, use face-book effectively.
If you don’t have friends, take the membership list and phone someone on there to encourage them.
It would be great not to simply phone to chat, but to wait on God before you phone and then to be able to share a scripture or encouragement from God, and even to pray together over the phone.
I do not refer to forwarding a religious e-mail with Helen Steiner-Rice scented wording and little doves in the top left corner and a promise of a blessing if I do not break the chain – by the way; I always break the chain!
I do refer to waiting on God to receive something specific and real with which to encourage one another, and I am speaking to the men too, this is not a girlie thing, or a leadership thing only.
Eph.5:19a says: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”
Col.3:16 says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Testified to the goodness and glory of the Lord?”
Personally, this does not come naturally for me – it should, but it doesn’t.
I tend to be so used to the goodness of God, His grace, mercy, favour and forgiveness in my life, that I almost do not see and recognise it, unless I stop and purposefully take note of it – and it’s a skande!
“Lord make me aware of your protection, your care and your provision, but also of your power, your glory and your majesty, so that I can testify thereof in a real way.”
I want to develop a spiritual awareness – seeing the unseen, hearing the inaudible, taking note of the reality of the spiritual realm and its influence in my life every day – acknowledging and testifying to God’s goodness daily – in a real and genuine manner.
Practically lived out the love and mercy of God?”
James 2:14-17 “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Again it is a question of awareness, of taking note of the realities of our personal worlds, and the worlds beyond which we sometimes conveniently turn a blind eye to.
How can I live out my faith, how can I show the love of God?
Do I love God in a way that will move me to inconvenience, beyond my comfort zones – not by works, but in obedience to His voice?
Can I do this quietly and anonymously, just because God loves them.
What is my agenda, what is in my heart?
Yes we should testify to the goodness and glory of God, yes we should evangelise and throw out the net, but sometimes we should show the kindness and the love and the mercy of God for no other reason than that it is oozing out of us.
Led myself well?”
I once heard the illustration of a boomerang – basically that each decision and choice that we make is like a boomerang thrown into the blue yonder, and at some future stage it will return.
The question is: What does it bring with it as it returns?
Successful people today, are living in yesterday’s and yesteryear’s decisions and choices – taking the easy road today will bite me later!
Have I been self-disciplined today in sowing for a future harvest in the different areas of my life – e.g. physically, relationally/socially, financially, spiritually and emotionally?
Built my marriage?”
These next 2 points are definitely part of the previous point, but are important enough to deserve separate mentioning.
Realize now that once the kids leave the house, all you will have left is your spouse and SABC 2&3!
I love my children very much, but I do not want to spend my latter years waiting for them to come to visit me and to bring some enjoyment to my life – I’d much rather be chasing Tanya around the house with my walker!
I realize that we cannot take our spouses to a candle-lit dinner every week or spoil her with expensive gifts every day, but I can surely be loving and kind in my words and attitude.
I can definitely make some tea or coffee, or run a bath, or feed the dogs, or take out the rubbish.
I can make some sandwiches and a flask of coffee for a picnic at the river, or even stretch myself to attend the ballet or a classical music performance.
I have learned that gifts of perfume, chilly chocolate or a favourite magazine outweigh shampoo, yellow dish washing gloves or even a brand new set of tyres!
1 Pet.3:7 “Husbands…be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
Positively engaged with my children?”
We need to be aware that the world in which they have to find and live out their values, is radically different from the one we grew up in.
But, although the weapons have changed, the targets have stayed the same: the world still wants their time, their affection, their innocence, their virginity, their allegiance.
I cannot afford not to know what is going on in the minds and lives of my children.
This is one of those areas in which I have to learn to sharpen my sword in times of peace, to communicate and to ask the questions.
I have to keep building my individual relationship with each of my children daily – this is one area where crisis management never avoids the crisis, but merely attempts to minimize the damage and that simply is not good enough!
*My children form my investment into the future of this planet and the salvation thereof; they are my best shot at advancing the Kingdom after my death.
Stood up for the truth?”
Did I make use of any opportunity to actively (not aggressively) verbalize Biblical values and truth?
I’m not talking about senseless debates about Daniel’s visions, but about real issues of marriage and divorce, of financial integrity, of punctuality after lunch breaks, of seeing my work as worship.
Very often we are surrounded by many opinions, yet the Biblical truth is lacking.
It is our responsibility to share and to stand for the truth of the Word of God in a non-compromising, yet non-aggressive way.
“All scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim.3:16)
Lived and enjoyed life?”
Have I deliberately made the choice to receive and enjoy the gift of life today?
Did I live this day in a forgiving way; did I choose to extend grace and not to be offended – also in traffic!
Did I choose to believe the best about people and not to be critical, cynical or judgemental?
Did I live in such a way that I am not left with regrets or guilt?
Did I live this day as a celebration of the provision and glory of God?
Did I bring hope and courage; did I inspire people; did I bring laughter and joy?
Did I live this day in a way that impacted others; do they hope to see me again soon, or to do business with me again?
Did I live today in a way that will allow me to sleep well and to wake up excited and expectant?
Paying attention to these things daily has the power to completely transform us.
It’s not about the 10 points, but is about an awareness, about paying attention to detail, about living intentionally, about giving ourselves to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, as we journey into 2012.
