Chapter 3 has an interesting section where it speaks about Matthew 16:18. I do believe that I have made the described wager with Satan to not attack his turf if he doesn’t attack mine. Unfortunately, as I’ve kept up my end of the bargain, he has not kept up his. As Christ’s church, we are to not defend ourselves against the enemy, we are to attack him. We are to disciple others and take more POWs than the enemy.

I need help, I need accountability. It is a good thing that I have community.

Man I hope that makes a little sense. And, my chance to serve with significance or just settle. Settle for less, settle for what comes easy…mediocrity. My chance to be an ambassador of Christ. This is, in my eyes, an overwhelming task. My, do I have a long way to go.

One key point that struck me in Chapter two was, “being actively involved in evangelism…how many non-Christians do you know that would consider you a close friend?” WOW! What a powerful question!

The cost of discipleship means me surrendering to Him and acknowledging that his ways are better than mine. Too often I find myself doing what I think to be right, rather than seeking counsel, community and prayer. The Watermark family has taught me more and more the importance of this truth!

Look forward to continue learning more as I read through this book and trek with you guys on this journey.

It is very eye-opening to note the simplicity of the truth that the one small (but important) thing we are in control of is our will. Free will is the true gift of God. It is remarkable, however, how much we can screw up with just this one little capability.

Although as a recent believer, I haven’t been praying long, I usually have prayed for god to give me help, or the strength, to do his will and to glorify him. After reading chapter 2, my perspective has changed a bit.

God loves me, is in complete control, and wants to be part of my life. I do not need to pray for him to help me – he already is doing that. What I need to pray for is that I can see his help as help and not as something else. That my eyes are open and I realize “his will be done.” He may not help in the way I want or expect, so I need to change my plans and use my will to not shut out His.

Hey everyone. I just dove into the first two chapters today and was drawn in immediately to what it means to have Jesus as Lord. It is so easy to not realize that all we have is a gift from our lord. There are so many times in my life where I give myself way to much credit. It is humbling to think about how many things we have no control over in our lives. When I took inventory of how many of my worldly possessions or traits that I truly value that were out of my control it dawned on me that it was every possession or trait. Furthermore it is not true that I have always treated my gifts as gifts from my heavenly father. Jesus as lord of all means a deeper devotion than my life has at many times represented. This needs to be the goal for me, and this chapter dives home the idea of how many gifts I have that have nothing to do with me.

I also love the list of “essential traits of a faithful man” because they are convicting, and yet empowering at the same time. The very first one really hit close to home for me when it mentioned Matt. 6:33 and how we are to “seek first the kingdom of God, AND his righteousness.” After truly unpacking the first part of that verse, and examining what it really looks like played out in comparison with my life – there is lots of room for improvement. The same goes for the second one when it asks if we are willing to pay ANY price to have the will of God fulfilled in our life. I have to be honest and ask myself if I truly mean it when I pray “thy will be done”, or do tag on “only if it doesn’t require sacrifice,” or “only if it lines up with MY will”.

The second to last paragraph says it perfectly – “the faithful person is one who has applied the Scriptures to every area of his life. The life of discipleship is a life of discipline -”. I am blessed to be a part of a community of brothers that recognizes the importance of this, and who constantly considers how to stimulate one another towards that goal. I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you!

“Lordship leads to mutual commitment, involving not only receiving, but giving. Grace is God’s willingness to commit himself totally to us. Lordship is our willingness to commit ourselves totally to God. Everybody wants God to commit Himself totally to him, but few are willing to commit themselves totally to God.”

I’ll admit that I want 100% of God’s commitment and protection in my life, while I still hold onto areas with a clenched fist, not wanting God or others to speak truth into them. The reminder that all things are under God’s control (Col. 1:16-18), whether I acknowledge it or not, is sobering. As I continue to meditate on what it means to be totally committed to God, my prayer is that He would reveal areas of my life where I need to loosen my grip and completely surrender to his Lordship.

As Todd made mention of the book (Disciples are made not born) on discipleship and faithful men that morning, I knew I had to accept and read the book. And, as I read chapter one, I find an inventory of where I want to be and with who. What it truly means to be a faithful man. Commitment and discipline which I lack. And last, to apply the Scriptures to every area of my life. I liked what Todd said when he likened reading Scripture without application — to going to Home Depot, buying a new tool and never taking it out of the box. Oh, and about the horrible conclusion of dying, being pulled aside by God, and Him sharing with me how much of my life was wasted!
I mean, if I died today, I really believe he would say that to me. As my fellow follower Seth stated in his observations above, “What a wake-up call!” The back cover of this book says it all for me. “As we are faithful to Christ’s Great Commission, we’ll experience the fulfillment that comes from being faithful to the life mission to which God has called us.”