February 7-13

Impartation

John 3:16-17, 15:12-13,

John 13:1-5, 12-17

When we think about the process of making disciples we must consider the principle of impartation.  You would be fully within your rights if you asked the question, “What is that?”  It is an element of the process of making disciples.  We need to impart the love of Jesus through our lives into the lives of those who have yet to come to know Jesus. 

The question could be asked, “How do we do that?”  We do that by allowing the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to becoming a channel of Jesus’ love to others.  No, we can never do this out of human effort.  From a human perspective we can never love someone enough to bring them to Jesus.  However, as the complete and sacrificial love of Jesus flows through us and into the life of the person we are trying to reach for Jesus, the love of Jesus can be made real to that person.  So, we must be about imparting the love that Jesus has placed in our hearts to those who need to know the reality of that love.  That is what we will be discussing and investigating this week.

Saturday, February 6

Use this day to be intentional about trying to obey the commands of Jesus.  Spend today loving others as Jesus has loved you.

Friday, February 5

John 15:12

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

Reflection

In this short verse Jesus defines what it means to obey his commands.  He doesn’t list dozens of rules.  He only gives us one.  If we are to obey Jesus then we are to love others as Jesus has loved us.  How did Jesus love us?  Jesus loved us by giving his life for us. 

In order to follow Jesus’ command to love other people the way he loved us we must sacrificially give ourselves in love to others.  This is something we must teach to those whom we are helping to disciple.

Take some time in prayer and meditation to think about how you can love others the way Jesus has loved you.

Thursday, February 4

John 14:23-24

Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and he will come to him and make our home with him.  He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.  These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”

Reflection

The principle of being consecrated to Jesus through obedience must be very important for Jesus to reiterate it as much as he does.  These verses emphasize the importance of obeying Jesus by stating the obvious opposite principle.  If we do not obey Jesus then it proves we do not love him. 

Have you ever considered that our lack of obedience signals a lack of love for Jesus?  Spend some time thinking about this.

Wednesday, February 3

John 14:21

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

Reflection

Jesus tells us that it is our obedience that proves our love for him.  However, Jesus tells us that we love him through obedience and then God, the Father will love us and Jesus will give us his love as well.  So, as we love Jesus by following his commands, God the Father and God the Son will love us as well.

When we teach discipleship to others we need to be sure that we share with them that loving Jesus through following his commands is not a one-way street.  As we love Jesus with our obedience Jesus will return our love.

Today, take time to contemplate how by simply obeying Jesus we are showered with his love.

Tuesday, February 2

John 14:15

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

Reflection

So many times we look for great and impressive ways to show our love for Jesus.  However, Jesus set a very simple standard for us to prove our love for him.  Jesus said that if we obey what he has commanded then that will prove that we love him.  If we love Jesus we will follow his teachings.

When it comes to discipling others into the way of Jesus we probably don’t give enough attention to this simple fact: the only way to truly love Jesus is to honor him through obedience to his teachings.  Ritual and fancy worship and tradition do not necessarily translate into love for Jesus.  Doing ministry and giving our tithe to the church do not necessarily translate into love for Jesus.  The only way that Jesus said that we could prove our love for him beyond a doubt is to obey him.  We need to be teaching that simple truth to every new disciple.

Does our obedience to the ways of Jesus prove our love for him?

Monday, February 1

John 8:31-32

To the Jews who had believed in him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Reflection

Jesus is clear on what the standard for true discipleship really is.  Our discipleship will not be evaluated on how many times we go to church a week.  Our discipleship will not be evaluated on how good we are.  The standard of our discipleship is whether or not we follow the teaching of Jesus.  If we are to follow Jesus then we are to obey what Jesus commanded.

When we are helping to disciple other believers it is of the utmost importance that we convey the significance of being obedient to Jesus.  We must teach those whom we disciple that if we really want to be seen as Jesus’ disciple, then we must follow the teaching of Jesus.

Does our level of obedience to Jesus’ teachings mark us as his disciples?