Your Third Step Of Discipleship

In the Second Step of Discipleship, we established that it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit, who is within us, that we are able to fulfill our commitment to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Here in the Third Step of Discipleship, we are going to develop what we must do -- the habits we will need to form -- to access the Holy Spirit. This Third Step is essential to establishing a personal, passionate relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you ready to proceed?

Read 2 Peter 3-11:

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Allow this word to penetrate, then select the 'Successful' response when you are ready to proceed.

From Oswald Chambers on the meaning of the word "add" in the above bible verse:

"Add" means there is something we have to do. We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We cannot save ourselves nor sanctify ourselves, God does that; but God will not give us good habits, He will not give us character, He will not make us walk aright. We have to do all that ourselves, we have to work out the salvation God has worked in. "Add" means to get into the habit of doing things, and in the initial stages it is difficult. To take the initiative is to make a beginning, to instruct yourself in the way you have to go."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished

"Develop good habits, establish character, walk in righteousness, work out the salvation God has worked in and take the initiative to do what God is asking of you".

Given what you already have on your plate, doesn't that sound a bit overwhelming?

If "No", chances are you don't need this course...But for the rest of us humans, the gravitational pull of the ways of the world, our flesh (“I want what I want separate from God.”) and the influence of the enemy make genuine discipleship seem almost unattainable.

That's why we have developed Mustard Seed to help you with discipleship.

While discipleship will never be easy, these Trails have been designed to help you break it down into a personalized, step-by-step, day-by-day, measurable process. This organized and systematic approach will allow you to profoundly benefit from applying the word of God to overcome the problems and obstacles of your everyday life. It will also allow you to realize the identity, purpose, meaning and vision God has placed in you in Christ Jesus.

In short, Mustard Seed will help you to develop the habits of a disciple of Christ, Jesus.

While Mustard Seed is a powerful tool, to successfully develop the habits of a disciple, you must do your part by following through on your daily Trails.

How committed are you to doing so?

Next Oswald informs us:

"Beware of the tendency of asking the way when you know it perfectly well. Take the initiative, stop hesitating, and take the first step. Be resolute when God speaks, act in faith immediately on what He says, and never revise your decisions. If you hesitate when God tells you to do a thing, you endanger your standing in grace. Take the initiative, take it yourself, take the step with your will now, make it impossible to go back. Burn your bridges behind you - "I will write that letter"; "I will pay that debt." Make the thing inevitable."

Take a moment and get quiet.

When you are ready, ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there is something that He wants you to take the initiative to do that you have been putting off. (Note: if you don’t hear anything, write down the first thing that came to your mind.)

Write down what you hear in the space below.

How committed are you to taking the initiative when God directs you? Specifically, how motivated are you to complete the item in Step 6?

Lastly, Oswald Chambers instructs:

"We have to get into the habit of hearkening to God about everything, to form the habit of finding out what God says. If when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we know that the habit has been formed. We have to take the initiative where we are, not where we are not."

What do you imagine is going to be your greatest obstacle to forming the habit of taking the initiative of turning to God and what can you do to overcome it?

You have made it to the end of another important Trail. Well done!

Consider sharing your action item in Step 6 with a trusted friend and let them know when you have completed it. One of the great truths about discipleship is that your odds of initiating actions for God’s Kingdom increase substantially when you are willing to share it with another person.

Tomorrow, 'Your Fourth Step' of discipleship will appear on your Day Plan.

See you back on the Trail then!

(Optional) Regarding forming habits, the first and most important habit Jesus asks us to develop is this:

'To love Him with all our heart, soul and mind and our neighbor as yourself.' (Matthew 22)

The Trail: 'This One Thing Jesus Asks of You' is simple and when done daily, will help you to develop this first and most essential of Kingdom habits.

You can find this Trail in 'Related' located at the top of this page. Be sure to choose the 'Everyday' option in your Scheduler.