Discipleship Letters 43-44

Discipleship Letter 43                                                May 24, 2009

“So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified” (Rom. 15:7).

When we grow in faith and come to know Christ better in this church, we must learn to accept each other. Many people accept you not because you are good and lovely. Rather, they accept you because they know that Christ has first accepted them. Thus, they have no right not to accept others, for they can’t find any reason why God has accepted them in Christ in the first place.

If we don’t accept each other, we need to ask, “Why has Christ accepted you?” This question helps us ponder upon the fact that we have nothing to boast under the cross. Under the cross, Paul said, “I am the worst sinner” (1 Tim. 1:15). In light of God’s grace, each of us is considered as the worst sinner.

God will be glorified when we learn to accept each other. “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (Jn. 13:35). Accepting one another requires love that reveals our corporate identity as God’s people. When we learn to accept those who are different from us, the world will see an alternative lifestyle and value.

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Discipleship Letter 44                                                May 31, 2009

“Serving is the ability to relate to people in such a way that their dignity as human beings is affirmed and they are more empowered to live God-glorifying lives.” [Duane Elmer, Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility (Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2006), p. 146.]

Serving others is anti-cultural teaching. We don’t practice it if we don’t have a better reason. Nowadays, many people don’t have this ability to relate to others in the church. There are two types of people who fit into this category.

The first type of people is that they don’t know about this ability, and they don’t want to know it. They selectively hear what they want to hear; they practice based on their selective listening.

The second type of people is that they know about the ability.  But they only practice it momentarily. They pick positions that they are comfortable with. They don’t persistently live up to the idea of servanthood.

Jesus used this ability in full extent. He always seized every moment to utilize this ability to bless others. Jesus washed the disciples’ feet is one of the demonstrations to this ability (Jn. 13). May we all persistently use this ability to bless and empower each other.