I think that one of the best and most unique things about Jesus Christ is that he personally disciples his followers.
I remember ~5 years ago he told me to do a thing and in doing that thing he also told me to give up all thoughts of something (something I thought was good) that I had wanted for years. It was confusing and painful. But it led to an entire new universe of insight and newness in my closeness and understanding of the Lord. It was almost like a personal revival…at the age of 40.
I know people who’ve attended church for a lifetime, hearing sermon after sermon, pastor after pastor yet have not been discipled by the Lord. I know people pastoring who’ve made no obvious change or progress in 20 years to what they preach or their knowing of the Lord. They seem stuck in 20 years ago spiritually.
I know Christians who have no idea what discipleship even is, they think and are taught that discipleship is adding skills at putting on a church show. And when in this mindset, they show no sign of change or progress or spiritual maturity.
We cannot control if or how Jesus disciples us, we can just submit to one prompting after another. When he says “follow me” or “do this”, or “don’t do that”, we simply and quietly follow. Regardless of how confusing or painful or how it causes people to misunderstand and unfriend us.
There are major breakthroughs and leaps possible for us, but again only to the extent that we surrender and follow just him.
Psalm 32:9 reads “Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which MUST BE CURBED with bit and bridle, or it will not STAY NEAR you.”
STAY NEAR to Jesus even when it distances you from people you admire and like and perhaps might want to follow around instead.
