Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

This description of Ezra has a lot to teach us about a disciple. Word order in the sentence is very different between Japanese and English, but the first point is that he had made a heart commitment. You can’t be a good disciple of Christ without that, and that is precisely where many Christians fall flat. Receiving God’s grace just for the sake of the blessings is not becoming a disciple! Ezra’s commitment was both to investigate and to put into practice the Law of the Lord. I have had people who walked away when they found out they were actually supposed to learn what was in the Bible, and many more who showed little interest in actually living out what the Bible says. No wonder Jesus said to “make disciples!” Churches that are filled with genuine disciples don’t have the problems that plague most churches, because the members are all committed to following Christ. Ezra went one step further in his commitment, and that was to teach the Law of the Lord to others. In other words, he was committed to making more disciples. That is very much the picture the NT paints of a true disciple of Christ.

I think I fit this picture at this point, but that’s nothing to take personal pride in. I’ve certainly taken long enough to get here! My calling and commission are to bring as many people as possible along with me, and hopefully they will do so faster than I did it. At the same time, like Paul I recognize that I am far from having arrived, and I need to keep pressing into Christ myself. I need to paint an attractive, but at the same time unvarnished, picture of what it means to be a disciple, so that as many as possible may make the same commitment to press in. I cannot force anyone into discipleship, but I can admonish, encourage, and love them in that direction.

Father, thank You again for this series You have us in on discipleship. Thank You for the message You’ve given me for this morning. May I fear no one and nothing, but rather be fully available and faithful to You. May Your Word flow through me unhindered, touching hearts with Your Truth and setting them free to follow You in true discipleship, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!