Discipleship

Jesus said in Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect (perfectly trained) shall be as his master (be like his teacher). Jesus was reminding His followers that, when they went out to disciple others, they could not expect their disciples to progress further in the spiritual life than they themselves had attained. In other words, the extent of our positive influence on others is limited by what we ourselves are. O. L. Clark said: "You cannot teach what you do not know; You cannot lead where you do not go."
Jesus reinforced this lesson with a parable. "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."
Jesus never said we could not get the "mote" out of someones eye! He just said that we had better have our own eyes clean and clear so that we may be able see clearly when we remove the "mote" that's in my brother's eye.
We may be eloquent, clever, and fast-talking, but if there are blind spots in my life, area of neglect and disobedience, then my discipling of others is a case of the blind leading the blind.
I must remember, "the extent of my positive influence on others is limited by what I am. I cannot teach what I do not know. I cannot lead where I do not go."

Hunger is renewable

In October 1993, Michael Jordan bid farewell to the Chicago Bulls and set out in a new direction. His team had won three consecutive NBA championships. It goes without saying that Michael Jordan has inspired millions of young basketball hopefuls. Just a year earlier, Jordan and his teammates of the U. S. Dream Team had garnered the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics. How could there be a greater or more appropriate parting achievement? The Bulls retired number 23 and erected a life-size bronze statue of the famed player outside their United Center.

What was Jordan's "new direction?" Baseball! The six-foot-six point guard signed with the double-A team of the Chicago White Sox in 1994. But being the hang-time king of basketball was no guarantee that he would become a home-run king. Jordan's batting average was only mediocre, and he spent the majority of his time playing right field - catching fly balls and boosting ticket sales.

On March 18, 1995 , Michael Jordan returned to basketball. As number 45, he took to the court again. For the next three years he would help the Bulls to gain three more NBA championships.

What's the point? The superstar didn't lose his basketball skills, he had lost his hunger. Hunger is renewable. It may be that we have to disconnect for a while, do something different from what you've been used to. Have you lost your "hunger?" Your Passion? What will it take for you to get it back? We may not be able to take a "new direction" like Michael Jordan did, but we can do something to get our hunger back. Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6

THERE'S A LIGHTHOUSE

It’s been a good day today. It began with a quite time of reading and meditating on God’s Word. Then I traveled to Chapel Hill, NC to visit a couple of folks from our church in the hospital. They had a kidney transplant on Tuesday and the Lord has richly blessed them and they are doing well. They may even get to come home on Friday. Praise the Lord! My parents from Morehead City, NC came this afternoon to visit for a few days. We’ve enjoyed a pleasant evening, eating supper and fellowshipping together with my wife, Jonathan and Heather, and my grandson, Brayden.
You may be familiar with the song, "There's a lighthouse on a hillside." Someone said, “The darkest place of any lighthouse is always at its base.” Wayne Cordeiro, in Leading On Empty, commenting on this thought said, we can “…shine a radiant beam out to the horizons, warning passing ships of dangerous water – while their own unmaintained plumbing floods the home.” This really spoke to my heart as a Pastor. If I’m not careful, I can “shine a radiant beam out to the horizons” and not let my light shine at home base. My prayer is that I will let my light shine as far as I can, but to also let it shine bright at home. I also want to lead my church in shining the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ as far as we can, but I don’t want us to neglect our home base. I want us to shine the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ as bright as we can in our community.

Easter Sunday

We had great Easter Sunday Services today! What a joy to serve the risen Savior! My message today was entitled "CSI: The Empty Tomb" from Luke 24. We had a wonderful lunch with our family and our Southeastern students. We've enjoyed a wonderful afternoon, just sitting around enjoying each other's company. We watched my grandson, Brayden hunt eggs.