There are people who have made a mark on this world, not
because they were powerful or wealthy, but because they were faithful followers
of Jesus Christ. Often they shook the
structures of their time for the single reason that they were people who
belonged to the Kingdom of God instead of the kingdoms of this world. And even though many of them faced (and still
face) the persecution of this world and the fate of martyrdom, they are the
heroes of their stories. Their
discipleship was stronger than earthly might, and their lives shine brighter
than the candles of kings and kingdoms.
The difference is discipleship. And Paul pleads with us to be disciples of
Jesus Christ.
“I appeal to you, therefore, brothers.”
Paul’s appeal is strong.
This is Paul’s deep desire for followers of Jesus Christ. This is, in many ways, his life’s work for
them. What Paul wants more than
anything else for these followers of Jesus Christ is that their lives would
reflect the image of Christ to an ever increasing degree.
When Paul writes to the Roman Christians he appeals to
them to be disciples in a culture not made for Christian disciples. The empire of Rome was not built around
making it easy for Christians to deny the state gods and religious
practices. When someone converted to
Christianity, the rest of their lives became harder. And, of course, we all have the images of
Christians in the Coliseum in our minds as we think of Rome and religious
tolerance. And yet, Paul pleads with
them to look more like Christ instead of less.
While Paul pleads with Christians to become disciples, he
tells us it happens by the mercy of God.
Discipleship is first and foremost a matter of engagement with God. We do not strive and achieve to make our way
into discipleship and the image of Christ by fixing the small, loose ends of
our lives or tidying up the messy corners of our personality we haven’t gotten
around to fixing yet. Discipleship is a
lifestyle of engagement and surrender to God.
The disciple surrenders what is destructive and engages with God in
order that his Holy Spirit can, by his power, build in him the virtues of
Christ. It is complete surrender; it is
constant engagement. The disciple learns
to turn their attention to Christ more often than not, and in the end, their
attention can be completely occupied and colored by the presence and wisdom of
God.
Discipleship is not a 12-step program or a formula that
can be applied in each and every situation.
It is a daily decision to belong to God; and that daily decision can
turn into a lifestyle, and that lifestyle really can turn into the life of
Jesus Christ. Paul has already told us
and the Romans that God has predestined each and every believer to be conformed
to the image and likeness of his Son, Jesus Christ. Paul now pleads with each and every one of us
– present yourself to God so that you may begin to look like, act like, and
think like, Jesus Christ.
Discipleship is a new life and it is a life available
only through the powerful mercies of God.
Please, I ask of you, follow Jesus Christ.
