Dusty Disciples
Pastor Philip is doing a series on discipleship, and I wanted to share something that is on my mind. Here in Kuwait, dust is everywhere. Right now, the wind is pretty stiff, and it picks up a lot of sand and dirt. Everyone is a little dusty.
When Marilyn and I were in Israel, one of the main things we learned about following Jesus was an old rabbinic expression: "You can tell a true disciple if they have the dust of their rabbi on them." In those days, following a rabbi meant literally walking behind your rabbi. A true follower wanted to be as close as possible to their rabbi because they didn't want to miss a single word, a movement, a gesture... they wanted to be EXACTLY like their rabbi. They would walk so closely that the dust the rabbi kicked up as he walked along would literally cover them. Dusty disciples.
We are told that God's goal is to "conform us to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29)." Our purpose here, the goal of being a disciple, is to look exactly like Jesus. When they see me, they don't see Josh, they see Christ.
How do we do that? Here's my suggestion: if you want to be just like Jesus, then read the Gospels. Then read the again. And again. Know Jesus' actions and words so well that they are not in you... they ARE you.
Be a dusty disciple.
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
We Praise You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yy9vvdPFoM
Same God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO1gwohd_zs
Names