Faithful on Fridays Blog

Discipleship

It seems that everywhere I turn pastors and Bible teachers are talking about discipleship. It’s become a ‘buzz’ word but I wonder how many of us realize it’s implications. Let’s look together at Jesus’ life, to begin at the beginning, to see if He was discipled. We know that He was God on earth, however, He was also man and our divine example. In Luke 2:41-47 we do indeed read an account of Jesus being discipled as a young boy by the rabbis or teachers and priests at the Temple and that’s what I want to discuss for the next few weeks: Jesus’ discipleship program.

It was the Feast of Passover, Jesus’ parents took Him to the Temple in Jerusalem and that’s where we find Him in Luke 2. Rabbis and priests took full advantage of the people coming to the Temple from all over Israel by having times of teaching Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) and giving homilies or preaching. That’s how the people learned their religious doctrine and were instructed in moral living, life lessons, and personal discipline. Jesus deemed this instruction important; important enough to leave the side of his parents and seek this instruction. When Mary and Joseph found Him, you may remember His response: “I must be about My Father’s business.” Some Bible versions have “in My Father’s house” but either way, Jesus knew where He needed to be discipled and sought it out. That’s the attitude we should have, hungry to know God more, seeking Him in His Word, and being teachable.

Our question, therefore, should be, “Are we about our Father’s business?” Well saints, just what is our Father’s business? Put another way, what are the concerns of our heavenly Father as they apply to us? If we continue to use our Savior as the divine example we find that He put Himself under the teachings of the religious leaders of His day to begin His quest. He sat in the midst of them, He was listening and questioning, and yes, undoubtedly speaking words of wisdom to them as well. Again, Luke 2 tells us that all were amazed at His understanding and answers to the questions He brought forth. That, my friends, is the beginning of being about our Father’s business.

Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.
Proverbs 4:13 NLT

My last point is that Jesus humbled Himself and was discipled as He grew in wisdom and favor with both man and God. Who are you sitting under for instruction in God’s Word and finally, are you growing? Can you see a change from last year to this year in your walk with Christ. Evaluate your spiritual growth this week and decide to make the changes you deem necessary to be about your Father’s business.