Discipleship

The past week I've been at Hume Lake Christian Camp in California. It was there that I was humbled and showed that I haven't even come close to doing what I have suppose to have been doing. I heard the call to discipleship that week, and I learned that it calls out to everyone.
We studied Matthew 5:13-16 that week. It says,

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

We Christians are the salt and the light. Do not lose your saltiness. Do not lose your passion and your want of God. You need to want more of Him, more than water and life. You can't share what you do not have. You need to have a love of God that is so great and prevalent in your life that it shows in the way you live to the people around you. The people around need to see that your a Christian in the way you live, that they can see what God has done for you. They need to see that you love God, and that you love them. If they don't and you try to tell them how great and awesome God is, they'll ask "What makes Him so great and special? You're no different than me." No. That is not how it is supposed to be.
So, ask yourself. When the people around you look at you, do they say, "What makes them so different? How could I have the joy they have?" Do they say that when they look at you? Do they? If they don't, then you are doing something wrong! There is no way around it, you are not doing something right! I know I haven't. Because if you asked my neighbors if I was Christian, they would say no. In fact, they would ask who you were talking about, because I haven't even begun to reach out to them. That's not even close to what should be by now.
It says not to hide the light under a bowl, but put it on a stand to shine light on all in the house. I thought that reading my Bible a few hours a day and writing on this blog was enough. I was completely wrong! I've been hiding my light under a bowl when instead, I should be shining this light on my neighbors and the other people in my life. By showing them who God is and what He can do for them.
That is changing now. I am going to start ministering to my neighbors, and I call you to do the same with the people in your lives. Now here is probably where you think I'll give you an easy trick to make it easier. Sorry, it's not easy! You will have what-ifs, you will have worries and fears, you might be worried about ruining a relationship you've had for years, well there is no getting around them! The best thing you can do is pray to God to remove those things from your heart. God will do what needs to be done. There is a way that can make it go more smoothly than just going up to the person and saying, "You're going to hell unless you listen to me."
Begin making a relationship with that person, and remember to show in your life that you are a Christian. And everyone has a story. You have a story no matter who you are. Share your story with the person and what God has done for you in your life. The person will either want to know more and maybe begin chasing God, or they will flat out ignore everything you just said. If they come to God; show them God's word, take them to church, and love them as they grow. But if they don't accept God, just keep loving them. Because you need to remember that God is the one who changes the people, not you. And He will change them on His own time. The speaker at the camp told us about a guy he new who did not come to God for years, and then suddenly moved to Africa and now serves the people there in God's name. Just keep loving the person. We can only point the person in the right direction, it's up to God to change the person.

God wants us to share His saving Law of freedom with the world. It will be hard, and you will be persecuted, so give up your life to God, your physical things, the people in your life, your own body. Give it all to God and trust Him with it all, and share Him with the people around you. Ask God to take away your worries and fears and the what-ifs that cause them and all the distractions of this world. Pray that God shows you the sins you have committed and the He forgives you for them, and that He helps you forgive yourself for them. Pray with all your heart, and God will do so. James 5:16 says

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Pray with all you have and God will answer. For I can tell you with a promise on God that God has never left a prayer of mine unanswered. But, why do you have to forgive yourself? If you hold on to the sins, and pains they leave, your light won't be pure. How can impure light shine on those around it, likewise, how can someone who doesn't let go of their sin and pain help other people with theirs? You can't.

Now think about the person you love most, who does not know God. I tell you now that you do not love that person. Because if you did love that person, at all, then you would care if they went to hell or not! Would you not? If you truly love someone then you should do everything in your power to lead that person to Jesus Christ! Until they do accept Him!
But then God asks us to love our neighbor, who is everyone in this world. So if you want to truly love anyone in this world, you Need to share God with them! You need to show them what God can do for them! I am yelling these words to you! If you do not share Jesus Christ with someone then you do not love them, and you are not following one of the only things God wants us to do! If you are hiding this light then you are lying! You are lying to the people around you! You are lying to yourself! And you are lying to God! Do not be a liar of a Christian! Love the people around you and tell them about Jesus Christ. That He can save them! We know we are going to heaven, but them, they don't have that light! They don't have that hope and joy that we do! Show Them!! Show them God! It brings tears to my eyes to think of how empty my life would be if I didn't have God! That there are people who don't have Him in their lives! It needs to end! We need to stop lying! Go! Go and share this Light with the world! For in Romans 13:11-12 says,

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Share God's saving Law now, for the time of Christ's return grows closer with every passing day! So we must save as many people as we can before that time comes!

I cannot say these things enough to you! But, I have saved the first step for last. Spend more time with God! Pray, read His Word, ask Him to teach you and speak to you! People say you can't hear God's voice, but they just haven't truly trusted that God will answer them! Like I said in the last post, rid your life of what keeps you from God! Separate the things in your life that glorify God and what does not. Remove what does not and keep what does. Trust God with all aspects of your life, and then share Him with the people around you! Become a Disciple!

Thank You For Reading
Long Live Jesus Christ
Amen