Christianity needs intentional training. We need “veteran” Christians” (those who are experiencing the richness of life in the kingdom of God) to GO forth and invest in the lives of others, discipling them to maturity: disciples making disciples who make disciples.
My book GO: Flex Your Story provides training for anyone willing and listening to our Father’s voice to share their unique story with others. But before you GO, you need to become a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. How do you fully become a disciple? That’s the purpose of my book BE: The Way of Rest. Many people do not GO and make disciples because they lack confidence and clarity regarding what it means to be a disciple. Their diminished, defeated approach to life produces an unenviable existence—one that no one would want—and they know it. BE:
The Way of Rest explores living life as Jesus exemplified it. Before we GO, we need to BE. To get on the disciple path, let me share what I call the great lesson from BE with you:
Some lessons in life are more valuable than others. Certain things that your parents, teachers, coaches, or pastors taught you have had greater impact on you than others. If you’re like me, some of the most valuable truths you have learned have come through failure. Or through pain. Regardless, not all lessons are the same.
There is a great lesson that God wants you to learn and to master. A lesson like no other in value. It is the lesson that allowed Jesus to sleep on the boat in the middle of the storm and that will allow you to sleep in the middle of your storms. It is the lesson that transcends every area of life and will empower you for any situation or circumstance regardless of where you are, how you are, or who you are. It is the lesson.
The Great Lesson is this: The one and only almighty God of all creation, our Father, is faithful. The simplicity of the statement belies the potency of its truth. There is no greater lesson to be learned or embraced in all the created universe. It is just that valuable.
Just as living at war requires wisdom about the nature of the war and its enemies, living in the faithfulness of our Father requires wisdom. For it is one thing to call yourself a Christian; it can be wholly different to truly live in, abide in, and submit to Jesus’s Way of Rest.
We can summarize the war by declaring that all the enemies of the Lord work in different ways but speak the same Great Lie: God is not enough. The Great Lie often gets delivered with savvy and allure. It is powerful. And we suffer because we believe it.
The antidote to the Great Lie is the Great Lesson: God is, in truth, faithful. He is, in all things and at all times and in all ways, working to cause “all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). In the war between the Great Lie and the Great Lesson, the Great Lesson prevails.
In approximately 701 BC, the king of Assyria, Sennacherib, invaded Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. The situation in Judah was desolate, and the people were afraid. War was in their face.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the king of Judah, Hezekiah, addressed the people: “Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles (2 Chronicles 32:7–8).”
Judah’s king reminded the people that regardless of how big the enemy is, or how terrible the situation appears, the Lord their God is greater. Hezekiah turned into the attack and the lies and declared truth.
Shortly thereafter, God sent an angel into the Assyrian camp and routed Judah’s enemy, sending the Assyrians back to their homeland in disgrace. Once again, the Great Lesson overcame the Great Lie.
What lies does the enemy whisper to you? Whatever he’s trying to convince you, don’t listen. Fight with God’s Word that promises us HE IS GREATER.
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