Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 292 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Discipleship
Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 292 of our trek. Yesterday we hiked on the 12th trail of this trek, which was the Trail of The Cross. Today we will explore a trail that we should seek after in many areas of our lives and that is Trail of Discipleship.
There is a total of 18 trails on the trek we call the Principles of Spiritual Growth, which is adapted from a short book written by Miles J. Stanford. These practical lessons were instrumental in my spiritual growth as a young man seeking to create and live my legacy. As we continue on each trail of our overall trek, I trust that you will also find this information valuable in your own life, regardless of where you happen to be on your faith trek. Each of the trails that we hike builds on the previous one, so if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. I have been able to stay focused this week on the tasks that need to be completed, so we are able to accomplish a good bit. AT&T cell coverage where Paula is in Fort Myers is nearly non-existent. Although phone calls can be made, the signal is certainly not strong enough to use as a computer hot-spot. I have been able to pick up the required daily duties that Paula provides for our client’s, so we are able to cover our duties as she is away.
Paula’s visit with her Aunt Pauline is going well, and they are finalizing the details needed for when God takes Aunt Pauline home whether it is soon or months away. Paula is her executor, and although they had all the planning and paperwork completed several years ago, it is best to recheck to make sure everyone is prepared and nothing has changed.
As we head out on our hike for today, it is necessary that we are also prepared for our daily trek. Many times we can learn from those that have traveled this path before. This is referred to as being a disciple of a master. Our trail for today is the Trail of Discipleship as we learn from the ultimate master, Jesus Christ. This is the 13th of 18 trails which makes up the trek we call…
Principles of Spiritual Growth – Discipleship
When we think of being a disciple of someone, it evokes the concept of learning. We are the student or the apprentice of someone who is a master in their craft or knowledge. As a Christ follower, we should desire to be a disciple of Christ. While the word disciple in my mind creates a positive image, the same root word discipline does not. How about you? Do these two words bring two different concepts in your mind? I like to think of myself as a disciplined person, but the thought of being disciplined by someone else does not give me the same sense.
Let’s explore what Biblical discipleship means. A disciple is one who first maintains the fellowship of the cross, which results in fellowship with his Lord or Master, which is discipleship. Christ is the master, but the cross is needed to clear the way for Him. It was because of the cross that He also became our master.
As a true master would, in spiritual progress Christ never pushes. He gently leads us step by step both in word and deed. We struggle and fail through our self-effort, which sets up a yearning and desire to overcome the times of failure in our lives. We learn from our master by observing Him as Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
The more we keep our eyes and mind on our champion, in time we see the scriptural facts of deliverance in the cross, which is our identification in Him. In turn, this produces the required hunger and desire to obtain the victory over self to enter into that freedom, freedom for fellowship with our risen Master, who initiates and perfects our faith. If we desire to become like the Master, then we must spend time observing Him and learning from Him.
As a disciple or apprentice, there are certain practices that we must become proficient at so that they become integrated into the very fabric of our lives. Christ tells us in Luke 9:23 what the initial requirements are “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” Are you willing to give up your life to become like the Master?
When the believer begins to really see the cross for what it is—a place of death, he is inclined to hesitate about choosing such fellowship. Our Lord Jesus understands this well, but there is no other way since that is the manner in which He finished the work on our behalf. So He simply allows our needs to continue their relentless pressure until we finally bend to His inevitable way of the cross. We need to understand the Master is not asking us to do anything that He did not do. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.
As we begin to glory in the cross, our very own freedom is awakened from all that enslaves, from all that would keep us from fellowship with our risen Lord. Our shackles fall from us, and we are set free from the treadmill of sin that so many believers find themselves chained to. As we begin to take up our cross, our liberation, our freedom from God, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ, begins to become evident in our lives. In most circumstances, a child must come of certain age in order to draw proceeds from a trust fund. In the same manner, as we become more like our Master, the personally finished work held in trust for us so long patiently begins to be released by the Holy Spirit as we begin to evidence God’s image in our daily lives. Talk about your trust funds. There is no better investment.
How do we grow as a disciple or apprentice of the Master? How do we obtain this coveted freedom that we all desire? Jesus gives us the answer in John 8:31-32, “Jesus said to the people who believed in him,’You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”
On our trek Principles for Spiritual Growth, today we learned what is required to become and start growing as a disciple on the Trail of Discipleship. We must keep our eyes and our mind on the Master, emulating Him and learning from Him. We must become like Him.
Tomorrow we will continue on a parallel trail as we hike on the Trail of the Process of Discipleship, which will provide us with some practical advice about the process of becoming more like the Master. Every trail that we hike will help us to create and live our legacy each day. So, encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.
That will finish our podcast for today. As you enjoy your daily dose of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person, so they can come along with us each day.
Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.
As we take this trek together, let us always:
- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend to others Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!