Today’s online study post is later than usual, but The Cole House is overflowing with the most wonderful three grandchildren this week, and catching up with them has been my priority. As most of you know, they (and their parents) moved to Little Rock a few weeks ago. This is their first visit back, and it’s been crazy fun.
As you can see, I literally have my hands full, and I couldn’t be happier.
I also want to thank their their amazing mom and my beloved daughter-in-love, Stephanie, for hijacking my post on Wednesday and letting you know why my usual online study post was delayed. And to all of you boys-only-no-daughters moms, daughters-in-law are so worth the wait.
Stephanie and I have had some great conversations this week. In one of them, she told me about a recent incident she’d had with the kids in the grocery store. An elderly woman was shopping close by them when she dropped several of her items. Before Stephanie knew it, seven-year-old Juliette (far right in the picture above) sprang into action and began picking up the items and handing them to the older woman who was most grateful.
Juliette’s quick response surprised Stephanie because Juliette is usually shy around strangers. But when Stephanie asked, “Juliette, what made you go help that woman so quickly?” Juliette immediately replied, “When I saw the lady drop those things, I remembered what I learned in my Sunday school class last week. Jesus wants us to be servants and help others. So, I did.”
Simple obedience. It’s what following Jesus and becoming a disciple is all about. So why do we make it so complicated?
Our own feelings of inadequacy often complicate our obedience to Christ (see Rose’s comments from last week). Fear and anxiety do, too (see Krystal’s comments as well). Challenging circumstances — like moving 15 times in your life as Audrey who commented last week has — can also sabotage the simplicity of following Jesus.
Each of those women, however, confirmed in their comments that simple obedience led them closer to Christ and enabled them to become stronger disciples.
This week, God used a seven-year-old girl to teach this fifty-seven-year-old woman about discipleship. It reminds me of a lesson Jesus taught to His own disciples:
“At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, ‘Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'” Matthew 18:1-4 NASB
Precious sisters, discipleship isn’t complicated. It requires childlike faith and childlike obedience. Thank You, Jesus.
And thank you, sweet Juliette.
$50 Shopping Spree Winner & New Drawing Next Week
Congratulations to Audrey who is this week’s winner of the $50 Shopping Spree on Priority’s online store! Audrey, I loved what you shared about moving and what God has taught you. And just in case some of you didn’t see it, it is a MUST read — especially if you’ve made many moves or know someone who has. To see Audrey’s comment, click here, then scroll down the page.
Audrey, please email (priority@priorityministries.com) to claim your prize. Thank you!
Next week we will have a new drawing for a beautiful One Year Bible for Women. To enter, post a comment to one or more of the discussion questions (below) and you may be the winner. And remember, if you post a comment every week, you’ll be entered in our Are You a Disciple? Grand Prize Perfect Attendance drawing! It will be BIG!!
Discussion Info:
When you are ready to discuss what you studied in your Week 5 homework, here’s how the online discussion works:
- Just post your comment to one or more of the discussion questions below.
- Read and reply to comments other group members post as the Lord leads you. Y’all have been awesome about this, so keep up the good work.
Week 5 Discussion Questions:
Question 1: How has serving the Lord while experiencing the power and fruit of the Holy Spirit worked for you? What was that like? How did it feel? And what were the results? (Day 2, Question 5b)
Question 2: In what specific way is Jesus, the Vine, nourishing you through His Word? And in what way are you, the branch, flourishing and bearing fruit? (Day 2, Question 7)
Question 3: In the first two days of your homework, you studied John 15:1-8 and the principles of abiding and producing spiritual fruit. But in Day 4, you studied John 15:9-17 and the topic of love. As you studied the entire passage (John 15:1-17), what new insights did you learn about love and how to love like Jesus? (Day 4, Question 6)
Our Assignment This Week:
- If you ordered the Are You a Disciple? downloadable videos, watch the Week 5 video and fill in the listening guide on p. 125 in your workbook. If you didn’t purchase the videos, but you’d like to watch this week’s video, click here.
- Complete the Week 6 homework which we will discuss next week.
- Watch your email next week for my Week 6 online study post AND the announcement of the One Year Bible winner.
I love y’all, but I gotta get back to my grandkids! See you next week, and I’ll be watching for your Week 5 discussion question comments.
Your sister in Christ,
