Know for certain that you are called to lead a dying life—a life conformed to the self-sacrificing actions of the cross (Psalm 44:22). The more you die to yourself the more you live to God.
Discipleship is not about becoming a cunning Christian chess master in our dealings with the world. Life as a disciple of Jesus Christ is about the ongoing journey of learning to depend entirely on the Holy Spirit in all things at all times.
The only way you will be completely focused on mission is to be completely dependent on Jesus, which often means not bringing your own provisions.
What if before the gospel can have clarity it must have simplicity, and what if the the most profound simplicity comes in the proclamation of these seven words: The kingdom of heaven has come near.
The disciples are presented without embellishment and polish so that we might clearly understand they are playing our “role” in the discipleship story that was never intended to end.
Compassion can’t be reduced to acts of mercy, nor is it a feeling. Compassion is a deep disposition toward others in the world.
“Hence we must support one another, console one another, mutually help, counsel, and advise, for the measure of every man’s virtue is best revealed in time of adversity.” Thomas a’Kempis
Real faith is coming to the place of actually trusting that if we make Jesus’ interest our chief concern, he will make our interest his chief concern.
Discipleship is all about growing in our capacity to perceive and embrace his very real, yet unseen, presence with us right now.
Faith is a fundamental core conviction not in the possibilities of Jesus but in the person of Jesus himself.
There’s a way of keeping up the form of religion while denying its very power. One of those ways is by fasting legalistically instead of relationally.
Jesus is the true Temple of God, and as such serves as the Doctor of Mercy who would himself become the sacrifice to bring about our healing.
