Is there a recipe for discipleship?
Let’s see if we can’t find a verse that is just that, a recipe. Now we all know that the scriptures are not filled with recipes of any kind. Mind you, could the 10 commandments be called a recipe for good, honest, respectful living? Perhaps it is.
I once thought, if I was to do this kind of search, I should probably define what would be the beginnings of discipleship and what would be the end. The beginning would have to be Salvation. We can’t become a disciple of Jesus without turning our lives over to Him. And what is the end goal for a disciple of Jesus? Would it not be unconditional love, the very love of God?
So is there a verse that encompasses those two parameters, salvation and love, and then all the steps in between? Yes there is. It is found in 2Peter 1:5-7.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. NKJV
Now let’s follow the recipe.
Add to your Faith
Here it is, the beginning. Salvation requires faith. Faith in Christ and the message of the gospel is the obvious first ingredient we need. For without faith it is impossible to please Him and we know that the righteous shall live by faith. Therefore this must be the disciple’s foundation. (Rom. 1:7), (2 Cor. 5:7)
Virtue
Virtues are the core values, beliefs and attitudes we have in the depth of our heart. They are the points of a moral compass shaped from years of experience, knowledge and understanding. They are what shape our thoughts and decisions which eventually formulate our actions. These virtues, when confronted with the truth of the Gospel and the presence of the Spirit, must become malleable and if necessary changeable to fit the righteousness God wishes to establish in our hearts. (Mat. 15:17-20),
(Mat. 5:28), (Eze. 11:19)
Knowledge
The living Word of God is one of the most important things in the life of the disciple. And in this treatise, it happens to be the third ingredient. The Word will be present all through our lives but at this stage in the very beginning of discipleship it is there to hone some very rough edges, to pinpoint what needs to be changed and also comfort and encourage. (2Tim. 3:16)
Memorize, (Ps. 119:11)
Educate, (Ps. 119:82)
Meditate, (Ps. 119:15)
Obey, (Ps. 119:17)
Read, (John 8:31)
Yearn (Ps. 119:20)
Self-Control
Self-Control usually has to do with our appetites. In other words, the sin that enslaves us, that drags us down, that wants to rob us of our victory and keep us from winning the prize. When we read God’s Word it becomes a mirror to us and reveals certain things the inner struggles and sin that God expects us to follow through on. This is the process of refining gold and cleansing the secret corners of our life. It requires resisting the enemy (James 4:7), putting on the Armour of God (Eph. 6:13-15) and overcoming temptation. (1Cor. 10:13)
I am like you. I’ve been down the road of temptation. I’ve used the armor, I’ve resisted, prayed and screamed. Many times it seems that nothing is working and you’re going to give in. But wait! It is at this very moment that we need to kick in the next ingredient and that’s perseverance.
Perseverance
Romans 5:3 states that; “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance “
When all self-control has been expended and it seems like failure is on the forefront that is when we must kick in PERSEVERANCE . When all self-control has been expended and it seems like failure is on the forefront, that is when we must kick in PERSEVERANCE. This can also be translated as endurance. Endurance can only be achieved when we realize that the battle is not ours but God’s and that the victory has already been captured at the cross. Stand firm.
Godliness
Godliness is our virtue producing fruit. When our hearts, our motives, our attitudes are driven by God’s Word it will produce the fruit of the Kingdom. These are found in Gal. 5:22-23.
At this point, everything that the disciple has been working on begins to reflect outward to others. The beauty of the fruits will begin to draw the world to “taste and see that the Lord is good”.
Brotherly Love
This ingredient can be one of the most difficult to reach. Believe it or not, we always find someone who irritates us, some brother/sister who just seems to get on that nerve. The road to perfect relationships in the Body of Christ will demand filling a lot of potholes. Nevertheless, Jesus said; “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”.
Love (Agape)
Finally, we have that perfect love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts. The Agape love that unconditionally seeks out the highest good for mankind. A love that is self sacrificing to the betterment of others. This Love becomes the end goal of our journey to discipleship. When we lay down our self-righteousness, our agendas, our masks, our pettiness, our judgemental attitudes and our desires to self-preservation, we will be able to impact this world as Christ did with His disciples and we might begin to understand what (John 15:13) means.
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13
Is this not our calling?
Let’s see if we can’t find a verse that is just that, a recipe. Now we all know that the scriptures are not filled with recipes of any kind. Mind you, could the 10 commandments be called a recipe for good, honest, respectful living? Perhaps it is.
I once thought, if I was to do this kind of search, I should probably define what would be the beginnings of discipleship and what would be the end. The beginning would have to be Salvation. We can’t become a disciple of Jesus without turning our lives over to Him. And what is the end goal for a disciple of Jesus? Would it not be unconditional love, the very love of God?
So is there a verse that encompasses those two parameters, salvation and love, and then all the steps in between? Yes there is. It is found in 2Peter 1:5-7.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. NKJV
Now let’s follow the recipe.
Add to your Faith
Here it is, the beginning. Salvation requires faith. Faith in Christ and the message of the gospel is the obvious first ingredient we need. For without faith it is impossible to please Him and we know that the righteous shall live by faith. Therefore this must be the disciple’s foundation. (Rom. 1:7), (2 Cor. 5:7)
Virtue
Virtues are the core values, beliefs and attitudes we have in the depth of our heart. They are the points of a moral compass shaped from years of experience, knowledge and understanding. They are what shape our thoughts and decisions which eventually formulate our actions. These virtues, when confronted with the truth of the Gospel and the presence of the Spirit, must become malleable and if necessary changeable to fit the righteousness God wishes to establish in our hearts. (Mat. 15:17-20),
(Mat. 5:28), (Eze. 11:19)
Knowledge
The living Word of God is one of the most important things in the life of the disciple. And in this treatise, it happens to be the third ingredient. The Word will be present all through our lives but at this stage in the very beginning of discipleship it is there to hone some very rough edges, to pinpoint what needs to be changed and also comfort and encourage. (2Tim. 3:16)
Memorize, (Ps. 119:11)
Educate, (Ps. 119:82)
Meditate, (Ps. 119:15)
Obey, (Ps. 119:17)
Read, (John 8:31)
Yearn (Ps. 119:20)
Self-Control
Self-Control usually has to do with our appetites. In other words, the sin that enslaves us, that drags us down, that wants to rob us of our victory and keep us from winning the prize. When we read God’s Word it becomes a mirror to us and reveals certain things the inner struggles and sin that God expects us to follow through on. This is the process of refining gold and cleansing the secret corners of our life. It requires resisting the enemy (James 4:7), putting on the Armour of God (Eph. 6:13-15) and overcoming temptation. (1Cor. 10:13)
I am like you. I’ve been down the road of temptation. I’ve used the armor, I’ve resisted, prayed and screamed. Many times it seems that nothing is working and you’re going to give in. But wait! It is at this very moment that we need to kick in the next ingredient and that’s perseverance.
Perseverance
Romans 5:3 states that; “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance “
When all self-control has been expended and it seems like failure is on the forefront that is when we must kick in PERSEVERANCE . When all self-control has been expended and it seems like failure is on the forefront, that is when we must kick in PERSEVERANCE. This can also be translated as endurance. Endurance can only be achieved when we realize that the battle is not ours but God’s and that the victory has already been captured at the cross. Stand firm.
Godliness
Godliness is our virtue producing fruit. When our hearts, our motives, our attitudes are driven by God’s Word it will produce the fruit of the Kingdom. These are found in Gal. 5:22-23.
At this point, everything that the disciple has been working on begins to reflect outward to others. The beauty of the fruits will begin to draw the world to “taste and see that the Lord is good”.
Brotherly Love
This ingredient can be one of the most difficult to reach. Believe it or not, we always find someone who irritates us, some brother/sister who just seems to get on that nerve. The road to perfect relationships in the Body of Christ will demand filling a lot of potholes. Nevertheless, Jesus said; “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”.
Love (Agape)
Finally, we have that perfect love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts. The Agape love that unconditionally seeks out the highest good for mankind. A love that is self sacrificing to the betterment of others. This Love becomes the end goal of our journey to discipleship. When we lay down our self-righteousness, our agendas, our masks, our pettiness, our judgemental attitudes and our desires to self-preservation, we will be able to impact this world as Christ did with His disciples and we might begin to understand what (John 15:13) means.
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13
Is this not our calling?