In Colossians 4:17, ‘ Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”’, and John 8:12, ‘ Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
God has a purpose for each of our lives. It is very important that we walk in the light in every area according to the light which God has given. It should be true in our personal life, our family life, in our secular work places and even as we fellowship. God sees our intentions and he knows even our smallest desires.
- Exercise Discipleship in our Personal Life.
Are we giving room to Jesus in our personal life? Colossians 3:5-7,’Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.’ Jesus said that one of the requirements to be a disciple was to hate our self. We need to put our self to death if we want to be a true disciple. We can ask ourselves these questions: How much authority have we given to Jesus in our life? How do we conduct ourselves with everyone with respect to this word? How we are using the organs of our body? Is it for the glory of God? How are we using our words? Above verses show the things that have to be completely done with in our lives. In the following passage we can see what virtues should instead be in our life as a disciple of Jesus – “a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, put on love, peace of God ruling our hearts, having a heart of thankfulness”
Colossians 3:12-17, So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
- Exercise Discipleship in our Family Life
“Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart’.
We are answerable to God in all areas. With the current Covid-19 situation, we have more time to spend with family and fix all the relationships within our family. As the head of the family, fathers/husbands have to take up their responsibility seriously. In Acts 10, we see after Cornelius got saved, he played a vital role in bringing his entire family to salvation. Similarly, we see the story of the conversion of the Jailor and how he was responsible to bring his entire family to salvation. (Acts 16) If we, as head of our family, are not faithful, then, we will not be able to bring salvation to our family members. There is also a God given responsibilities for wives- to be submissive to their husbands. And for children also – God has commanded to be obedient in all things to their parents. Whatever role that God has given us in our families, we need to follow it as a faithful disciple of Jesus. Then only we can say that we are walking in the light
Discipleship is a continuous process. We keep learning to be a disciple, depending on the Holy Spirit. He will lead us out of the darkness, as we keep seeking Him.
- Exercise Discipleship at our Workplace
Colossians 3:22-25, ‘Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.’- These verses talk about discipleship in work place. We are all accountable in our workplace to authorities over us. When we work for them; our work must be done with utmost sincerity, fearing the Lord. We must do our work as we do it to the Lord. God will give us grace, in all the areas and He helps us where we are weak. Workplace is also a ministry that God entrusted to us. Are we faithful? We have a reward in heaven, if we remain faithful. Masters, are we keeping justice and fairness towards our subordinates? How can we show Jesus love in our conduct and dealings with them.
- Exercise Discipleship in our Fellowship.
God is equipping us individually to be a bride of Christ through the body of Christ. Our fellowship with our brothers and sisters should enable us to overcome sin in our personal life.
1 Thessalonians 5:11, ‘Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.’ This will be true, if our fellowship helps us in transforming our individual lives. The light God gives us, we need to be faithful and be an example in practicing it in our lives. Have a zeal to be faithful to walk in the light we receive and don’t let darkness cover the light.
1 Peter 1:6-9,’ In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.’
As we go along this path of discipleship – in our personal lives, in our family lives, in our secular lives and in the church; let us pray that we come out as gold. Through our various situations God can transform us to the image of Christ. Through this, the name of Jesus will be glorified. Matthews 25:21, ‘His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’’ – If we are faithful in small areas throughout our life, God will put us in charge of many things.
God’s promise for His children is that as written in 1 Corinthians 2:9,’ “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.'”
Paul here is saying to take heed in our ministry. We have to understand that each of us have a God given ministry. It is important to have a check how faithful are we to that call. God is looking for disciple who are whole hearted and faithful. Whatever we have received from the Lord it is important that we need to be sensitive to fulfill it. Paul is encouraging Archippus to take heed in the ministry that God intended to do through him, so that he will be able to fulfill it. So, in order to fulfill the ministry that the Lord has intended for us personally, it is inevitable to reject the path of darkness but to walk in the light.
Are we having God as the Sovereign authority over our life? Then, each of us should be faithful in all areas and have a transformed life. We need to put efforts and hold on to the promises of God, continuing in the light God gives us, knowing that nothing can separate us from God’s love, then we become overcomers through Christ.
May God bless us.
