'I Want To Be A Christian Worker': Luke 10:20 (Goodness)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Goodness?

Write down what you think it means to be a Christian worker.

For example, what are the goals and purposes of a Christian worker?

Read Luke 10:20:

"However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chambers' comments on Luke 10:20 and what is means to be a Christian worker.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Oswald begins:

"Worldliness is not the trap that most endangers us as Christian workers; nor is it sin. The trap we fall into is extravagantly desiring spiritual success; that is, success measured by, and patterned after, the form set by this religious age in which we now live."

In general, how do you see 'spiritual success' being measured by others? Be specific.

Oswald adds:

"Never seek after anything other than the approval of God, and always be willing to go “outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Hebrews 13:13). In Luke 10:20, Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have a commercialized view— we count how many souls have been saved and sanctified, we thank God, and then we think everything is all right."

How much does this description align with how you have been taught to think about 'spiritual success'?

Oswald continues:

"Yet our work only begins where God’s grace has laid the foundation. Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God’s sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples is to disciple others’ lives until they are totally yielded to God."

How much do you agree with this observation?

Oswald states:

"One life totally devoted to God is of more value to Him than one hundred lives which have been simply awakened by His Spirit."

What are your thoughts on this statement?

Oswald adds:

"As workers for God, we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and those lives will be God’s testimony to us as His workers. God brings us up to a standard of life through His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that same standard in others."

Take a moment to consider all the grace you have received from God.

Think about the love-gifts of your salvation and sanctification that come from God. The healing, restoration and redemption you have received from His grace. Consider that Jesus has written your name in heaven to live with Him, in paradise, forever and ever.

Now ask yourself this question: how important to you is it to bring others up to the same standard of life that you have received from God's grace?

Oswald observes:

"Unless the worker lives a life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), he is apt to become an irritating dictator to others, instead of an active, living disciple. Many of us are dictators, dictating our desires to individuals and to groups."

How much does this observation apply to you?

Oswald concludes:

"But Jesus never dictates to us in that way. Whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He always prefaced His words with an “if,” never with the forceful or dogmatic statement— “You must.” Discipleship carries with it an option."

Regarding the way you have attempted to disciple others, is there anything you would like to repent of (express your sorrow)?

If so, you can do so privately or in the space provided.

Pray

Get quiet and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in how, going forward, He would like you to disciple others.

If you wish, you can write down what you receive in the space provided.

Note: if you do not receive anything, ask yourself the question: "What specific changes to my current understanding and approach to discipleship do I want to make?"

How much has this task increased the Fruit of Goodness in your present disposition?