Discipleship – Getting Going - Monday 25th Sept 06
Luke 8:16-18 (GNB)
"No one lights a lamp and covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, it is put on the lampstand, so that people will see the light as they come in. 17"Whatever is hidden away will be brought out into the open, and whatever is covered up will be found and brought to light. 18 "Be careful, then, how you listen; because those who have something will be given more, but whoever has nothing will have taken away from them even the little they think they have."
Every now and then I feel I ought to have more exercise. The temptation then is to take Mark Twain’s advice - to go and have a lie down until the urge goes away! Not perhaps a good model to myself or others, but the times I have seriously gone out for a run I have ended gasping and wheezing after a 100 yards! I find even the little breath I have seems to have been taken away. My colleague however goes out for a 5 or 10 mile run regularly and never seems out of breath.
One can quite see why Jesus similar words about our discipleship. If we do not practise it publicly, even the little courage we have seems to fade, whereas taking our courage in both hands and being prepared to stand up and be counted seems to strengthen us.
For years I was afraid to ask to pray with anyone, especially if they were not a committed Christian. Then one day I had to pray with someone who was dying. I don’t know if it helped them, but it certainly made me realise it was not as difficult as I thought. I’d put my little light on a lampstand – admittedly a small one, but a lampstand nevertheless. I could no longer say I couldn’t do it.
To do: Resolve to pray with someone this week. | 