This past Sunday we looked at Romans 8:18-30 in order to unpack the theme of Lifelong Discipleship.

What is discipleship? Paul gives a possible definition of discipleship in Romans 8:18 when he says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” In other words, disciples of Jesus Christ have present suffering in the world, yet they live with the hope of a future glory.

But can we give an even more practical answer to the question of what is discipleship? Yes.

Discipleship is a biblical concept, but the word itself does not appear in the Bible. The verb that means “to learn” is related to a noun form that means “disciple.” But “discipleship” is something that we have to define using what we see in Scripture.

Defining discipleship is as easy as asking two questions:

1) How do I perceive God?

2) How do I perceive myself?

In fact, every person I’ve ever met is on some kind of discipleship journey. This is because every person I’ve ever met is constantly asking or answering those two questions, and how each of us answers those two questions has implications for how we live our lives.

If I perceive God as a harsh taskmaster waiting for me to mess up so that he can yell at me, then I will either perceive myself as someone who needs to do everything perfect to avoid getting yelled at, or I will perceive myself as an angry rebel who wants to break the yoke of such a cruel task master.

However, what happens if I perceive God as the good Creator who gives us life? That helps me lift my head higher. And if I then also perceive myself as a sinner in need of a Savior? It humbles me. And if I then perceive God not only as my Creator but also as my Redeemer who rescues me from sin? It astounds me. Then I am free to perceive myself as a well-loved adopted child of the King of Kings. How does that change the way I carry myself? How does that change how I relate to other people in our world?

The cycle of asking and answering those two questions never ends in this life. Sometimes we are asking the questions more explicitly, sometimes more implicitly. Sometimes we don’t even realize that we’ve been asking these two questions at all - we’ve been too busy merely living without too much reflection.

So if this is true, then how should we live? I encourage you to take time not just to live your life, but to reflect on it using these two questions. They are great questions to ask yourself just before your head hits the pillow at night. The Psalms give us the example and encouragement to reflect on our lives even as we fall asleep (Psalm 63:6; 77:6). Then I encourage you to simply pray: “Lord, help me to see more of who you really are.” And also pray, “Lord, help me to see myself accurately, in light of who you are.”

These two questions really are the seeds of discipleship that grow into the saplings of faith that move us up the mountain of our union with Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Him,

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