Walking in Discipline

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Luke 9:14 - (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 

GREEK TERMS:

πεντακισχίλιοι ἄνδρες (pentakischilioi andres) - Five Thousand Men

The crowd who left their homes, forgot their hungry tummy and waited on the Lord in the wilderness, just to listen to Jesus Christ The Messiah.

μαθητὰς (mathētas) - Disciples 

The 12 chosen followers of Christ Jesus, who spent their lives with Him and heard His Words, who were appointed for the Special Mission.

κλισίας (klisias) - Groups

When the people are organized in groups only then the given task can be fulfilled well. 

πεντήκοντα (pentēkonta) - Fifty

Fifty or Pentecost means The Year Of Jubilee. The year when the slaves were given freedom from their slavery and all their debts were forgiven. In the day of Pentecost, Holy Spirit came upon the people who were waiting on the Lord.

KEY TERMS:

1. Jesus is Famous that is why about 5000 men along with the women and children have come to meet Him.

2. People are hungry to hear Jesus speak and see the miracles and also receive it.

3. Jesus is a wonderful leader, He can handle people well.

4. Jesus's disciples are very good in listening and following exactly what the Lord says.

5. People follow and obey what they are asked to do.

6. There is an order to follow for the leaders. 

7. The people are organized by Jesus to sit and eat the food.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

This passage is for those who are leaders and the servants. Here both of them are the disciples in Jesus Christ. The leader who is also a disciple of Jesus, must live a disciplined life. If he or she leads a disciplined life only then the followers will follow us. When a group has been given to you. Then you are responsible for that group. As Jesus asked His disciples to make the crowd sit in groups of 50, the disciples obeyed Him and also did the crowd listened to Him. As a leader, our life must have such a testimony that one must be eager or prone to listen and obey us, whatever we say according to the Word.

For the servants or the followers or the believers who are also the disciples in Christ, must give a keen interest in hearing and obeying what our leader or our pastor says. We cannot make excuses or disobey what has been told to us. If we really are the followers of Christ then we naturally have the tendency to do the Will of God. We may have mentors who guide us spiritually, they may correct us when we are wrong, at that point of time too, we need to obey them.

WORD OF THE DAY:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus Christ is our leader, when He gives us a responsibility, we need to do it on the spot without murmuring. When the disciples were asked to make the crowd divide in groups of 50 each, they could have made faces or frowned or may have made excuses. This was such a tiring Job, yet the disciples did what the Lord had said. God loves those who obey Him instantly, even if we do not like it yet when we put aside all our plans and decisions and let God decide for us, He works wonders. We may pray to the Lord to give us higher positions and leadership, but I would suggest you, please never pray to become a leader, because if we become a leader without knowing the Will of God then we will suffer. Our name and our character will spoil like anything that we won't be able to show our face to anyone. That is why let God place us where we ought to be. Better we be hidden and work for the Lord rather becoming a clown to the world.

 INTROSPECTING TIME:

1. What kind of disciple does God wants me to become? Is it Servant disciple or a leader disciple?

2. Am I listening to God's commands and descisions?

3. When I want to become something or do something for life, how can I know God's voice?

4. Will God forgive me and help me come out of the problems which happened because of me?

5. How can I be faithful to God?

 WORD OF PRAYER:

Dear Lord, we come to you with an open heart, it's not our mind, plan or decisions but we want your plans to happen in our lives. Help us O Lord, so that we may learn to obey you. Make us an acceptable disciple in your sight, may we always find favour in your presence. In Jesus's name we ask in Faith.

Amen