Discipleship

John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

I'm not sure if somebody else already shared this verse for this, but it has to do with us being Christ's disciples. It's difficult to love others when they're doing wrong and not showing love to us, but that's the opportunity when we can show real love.

Titus 3:1-5a

1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2. To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...

v1

This is a passage that tells some good things that we can share with people for discipleship. We're supposed to be subject to authorities. Children should honor their parents, and wives should reverence their husbands. We should honor the people in the government as placed there by the Lord, even if we disagree with them. We should treat spiritual powers with appropriate dignity. We should submit to leading brothers in the local assembly.

v2

We shouldn't say bad things about anybody. We shouldn't be fighters, but instead should be gentle and humble to everyone. But how can we achieve this? It can be really difficult to respond to other people the right way when they are acting really wrongly. This passage continues by explaining 2 ways that can help us do these things.

v3

First of all, we need to remember that we were the same way. When we want to fight with other people or say bad things about them, it will keep us humble to remember that we are no better than them. When we think they're stupid and hateful, we should remember what we've been saved from.

v4&5

Secondly, we need to remember what He has done for us, how He was loving and merciful enough to forgive us despite our sin. When we remember that, it can help us to forgive others the same way. And we always need to remember that we didn't save ourselves by any good things we did. When we start thinking that works of righteousness that we have done are why we're saved, it can lead to pride, and then to all those other problems.