What do you think?  Were the disciples rich or poor?

While sitting in a NAZI prison Dietrich Bonheffer wrote this about the plight of Jesus’ followers.

“The Disciples are needy in every way.  They are simply “poor” (Luke 6:20).  They have no security, no property to call their own, no piece of earth they could call their home, no earthly community to which they might fully belong.  But they also have neither spiritual power of their own, nor experience or knowledge they can refer to and which could comfort them.  For his sake they have lost all that.  When they followed him, they lost themselves and everything else which could have made them rich.  Now they are so poor, so inexperienced, so foolish that they cannot hope for anything except him who called them.” Discipleship p 102-103

What would you give to have known Jesus?   What would you give to know him now?

Luke 6:20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.’ Matthew5:3    Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

If we love the good things of life more than God, then our wealth is our enemy.  If we are self-righteous, then we will not know how very much we need Christ.

RD

posted February 8, 2007

Rick and I teach a Disciple class on Wednesday evenings. Disciple Bible Study is a series of studies with the intent of making disciples. It is direct in its individual challenge to “take up your cross and follow me” It is changing lives, renewing the individual as well as the church as a whole. I firmly believe that if a person takes the study seriously, and it is taught appropriately, change will occur in the persons life. One cannot study the Word with a willing heart and not change; it is that powerful. The statistics of this particular study are amazing. Rick and I were students for several years before we became leaders of Disciple Bible Study. We have not missed a single year and God willing, we will continue to offer this course as long as He will allow us. I am a huge proponent of this particular study. It is one of two ‘tools’ that helped to guide me toward a changed life. The other is Emmaus. I’ll talk about it in another writing.

One of the things that is so amazing about studying the Word of God, is no matter how many times I’ve read a particular scripture or book, i always find something new when reading again. The Word is, after all, active, living and revealing only that which we can handle in a particular time of our life. I mention this because I have read Mark numerous times but it was only last night that i realized the significance of the crowds.

The crowds were made up of people who were oppressed, the poor, the lost, the lonely, the ones who needed hope. These crowds of people were so needful of their savior that He could hardly get away to eat. He would try to “escape” on a boat, but without success. The crowds were anxious to hear the Word. They needed it, desired it.

Where are the crowds today? Where are the people anxious to hear the Word of God? Where are the people who are anxious for the Savior? Are we not needy enough to be anxious? Have we involved ourselves so much in other activities that we are numb to our real need? Do we have so many things that satisfy us that we don’t feel the need for a Savior?

I fear the direction this world is heading. It doesn’t leave one with a good feeling. So much division, so much emphasis put on the SELF. That is our downfall. I pray for something better, i pray for change of hearts and I pray for God to help me get beyond the SELF.

I have a meeting to prepare for!
TTYL…Tracie