The Joy of a Disciple

The Joy of a Disciple

"You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, I must decrease." (John 3:28-30, ESV)

It takes but a moment in reading the Apostle John's gospel account to get a sense of what motivated John the Baptist - to get a sense of this man's heart. In John 3 we read of John the Baptist making his mission crystal clear. He understands his life's calling to be one that testifies to Jesus. His was born to show the world who Jesus is and why he has come.

A LIGHT GIVEN TO SEE GLORY

A LIGHT GIVEN TO SEE GLORY

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Prior to coming to verse 6 in 2 Corinthians 4 there is verse 5, which reads, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” Paul is writing that we – those who believed, at that time, in Jesus Christ – were not proclaiming themselves as Lord but they were proclaiming Jesus as Lord. Apparently there was some discussion going around that these Christians were usurping the Lordship of Jesus in favor of elevating themselves among other people. Paul destroys this falsity as he writes that they are proclaiming Jesus as Lord and, as for the Christian’s status among other people, they are placed rightly as servants for everyone for the sake of Jesus.

Moving on from verse 5 one can see that Paul is continuing his line of thinking from verse 5 into verse 6 because of his use of the word for.

Be Transformed in 2016

Be Transformed in 2016

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1).

I am inviting you to be transformed in 2016. Specifically, to be transformed by the renewal of your mind. I invite you to join with me in having our minds repaired, fixed-up, polished, and even made new in 2016. Then, because of the renewal of our minds, to be transformed. I invite you to join me in heeding what Paul has himself invited his readers to do in Romans 12:1. Be transformed. Renew your mind. Know the will of God!

The question then is, "Well, how do I renew my mind and be transformed?"