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“Recently,” Stan began, “we’ve talked about the importance of single words in how Jesus described discipleship.”

“That’s right” I replied. “About whether discipleship is optional, whether it’s for everyone, and how it takes more than just wishing to be a disciple.” [See references at the end.]

“Thanks for remembering,” Stan replied with a smile. “While you may wonder how long we’re going to do this one word at a time, I’ve got another single word that Jesus mentioned about discipleship that I’ve found to be important for me and my faith walk.”

“What word is that?” I asked.

“Daily,” Stan replied.

“Daily? Daily what?”

“Luke’s gospel records that Jesus said we are to take up what He has for us to take up on a daily basis. It looks to me like ‘daily’ means every day.”

“Oh,” I replied, “like people are to be doing each day what God has for them in being disciples? Not just once in awhile, or whenever they happen to feel like it? Is that what you mean?”

“It is,” Stan replied, “and it’s not me who means it; Jesus said it and I think He means it!”

Continuing, he added “It’s kind of like the same thing that Jesus talked about when He was teaching His disciples how to pray.”

“What same thing?”

“He taught the disciples to pray to God the Father asking for their daily bread. Here it looks like Jesus is saying, in essence, ‘You’ve got your daily bread, now I have something for you to do for me on a daily basis: take up what I have for you to take up!’”

“That seems fair,” I replied. “God gives to us on a daily basis; we are do the same for Him. Daily goes both ways!”

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Bible verses to consider:

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23.

Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11.

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. John 14:15.

And why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?” Luke 6:46.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving me all I need. You have given me eternal salvation and every day you give me all I need for this life. In turn you ask me to take up each day what you have for me to take up for you and your kingdom. I confess that too often I don’t do that because that’s what I choose. Please forgive me for not doing what you have for me to do. Help me to follow every step of your lead so I do, in fact, take up each and every day all you have for me to take up for you and your kingdom. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him? If no, why? What’s in the way? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, are you taking up what God has for you to take up for Him and His kingdom each day? Do you see that we can’t just ask Him for what we need each day without doing for Him each day what He has for us? If you sense the need for change, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?

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Note: See the postings for March 6, 2023 (Discipleship: Jesus said, “If;” does that mean a choice), March 8, 2023 (Discipleship: Jesus said “Anyone” — does that mean “Everyone”?), andMarch 10, 2023 (Discipleship: More than a wish?)

After Ricky had taken our orders for the blueberry pancakes we wanted for breakfast, he said, “I’m going to go back there and tell Cook so he can do what needs to be done.”

Ricky left and Stan said, “You know, what Ricky just said is a lot like my personal testimony of coming to faith..”

“Having Cook make some blueberry pancakes is like coming to faith? Are you kidding?”

“I’m not,” Stan replied. “I came to faith because someone came back to tell me something I didn’t know. Ricky is going back to tell Cook something he doesn’t know about what we want for breakfast. It’s the same thing with two guys who were on the Road to Emmaus when they encountered Jesus. It was the same thing with me.”

“What same thing?”

“Let’s take a quick look at what was going on,” Stan replied.

 I didn’t say anything, but waited to hear what Stan had to say as he continued. “Jesus had been crucified in Jerusalem. On the day of His resurrection, two disciples were walking to Emmaus, a village about seven miles from Jerusalem. These two disciples were confused by what had happened to Jesus. They didn’t understand why He had been killed.”

“Yeah,” I said, “a lot of people are still confused about Jesus. They just don’t understand.”

“You’re right about that,” Stan replied. “But getting back to these two disciples who were walking to Emmaus, Jesus showed up and explained to them the Scriptural truth of why He had to die.”

“They must have been surprised to see Him.”

“They didn’t know it was Him at first,” Stan replied. “But they did later after He had told them what He wanted them to know. And then it happened.”

“What?”

“How this ties together,” Stan said. “After those disciples heard the truth of what Jesus wanted them to know, they got up, went back to Jerusalem, and told the other disciples what Jesus had told them.”

“They told the others the biblical truth,” I replied. “Is that it?”

“That’s it,” Stan said. “And it’s just like what happened with me. Someone came back after hearing the truth to tell me so I would know.”

“Oh,” I replied. “That sounds like it might be something good for all of us to do after we have heard and accepted the truth.”

“In what way?” Stan asked.

“Go back and tell others who don’t know what they don’t know.”

“You got it, my friend,” Stan replied with a smile.

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Bible verses to consider:

And they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon.” Luke 24:33-34.

Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-15.

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10.

Go . . . . Mathew 28:19.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the truth of your free and gracious provision of Jesus so I could believe and know I will spend eternity in your presence. Thank you for those who came to tell me the truth so I could believe and accept your provision. I confess that too often I don’t go and tell others the truth so they, too, can believe. Please forgive me. Help me to follow every step of your lead in going wherever you have for me to go to tell whoever you have for me to tell the truth of the gospel so they can believe. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Has someone told you what they found out about the truth of the gospel? If so, have you accepted it so you know you will spend eternity in God’s presence? If you have heard, but have not accepted it, why? What’s in the way of accepting God’s free and gracious provision? If you haven’t heard the truth, do you know how to find out? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with telling others the truth of the gospel so they, too, can believe and be saved? If you sense the need for change in any of this, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?

Stan’s main takeaway for each day this past week.

The full version of each posting can be found at www.waiting4thetrain.com

Note: Please forward this to friends, family, colleagues, etc. as a way to introduce them to Stan,  S. Tory Teller, and the conversations about faith, discipleship, and what it means to be a Christian.

Also, don’t forget that S. Tory Teller’s book, the 100-day devotional, Waiting for the Train — Biblical Food for Growing Before Going, is available from amazon.com, other on-line book sellers, and directly from the publisher at www.s-toryteller.com 

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Monday, March 13 (Receiving the package) —The Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the package God has for us. Have we received and embraced all of it?

Tuesday, March 14 (Maybe that’s why God seems to be silent) — Are there things in our lives that we are asking God to remove — things that He wants to use for His redemptive purposes?

Wednesday, March 15 (Laughing because of unbelief) — Some people laughed at Jesus because they thought they knew more that He did. Not a good idea! Where are we with that?

Thursday, March 16 (Discipleship — Daily goes both ways) — We ask for our “daily bread.” How are we doing with our daily discipleship?

Friday, March 17 (Going back to tell others) — On the Road to Emmaus two disciples encountered Jesus. He told them why He died. They immediately went back to tell others. Are we going back to tell others who don’t know what they don’t know about Jesus?

Ricky brought our breakfasts. Stan had his usual blueberry pancakes. I had some eggs and toast. Stan said, “Let’s thank the Lord for His provision.” And then he prayed.

As he finished praying and we began to eat, Stan said, “The other day, I was talking with a neighbor about the effectiveness of prayer.”

“Effectiveness of prayer?” I responded. “Oh, you mean about how the prayers of a righteous person can accomplish much that James wrote about?”

“Not so much that,” Stan replied. “More about praying in Jesus’ name.”

“Praying in Jesus’ name,” I repeated. “What about it?”

“About how just saying that we are praying in His name is probably not what God has in mind for our prayers.”

“How so?” I asked.

“Let me give you an example,” Stan replied.  “It’s pretty common for people to end their prayers with something like, ‘I pray all of these things in the name of Jesus’.”

“Yeah,” I responded. “I do that. I’ve heard a lot of people do that. What about it?”

“Seems to me,” Stan replied, “that maybe that should come at the beginning, not the end.”

“At the beginning of our prayers, not the end? Why?”

“At least a couple of reasons,” he said. “First of all, I think it’s pretty much a given that we are to pray in accordance with God’s will so that His will is done.”

“Okay,” I replied. “Didn’t Jesus say that when He was teaching His disciples how to pray?”

“He did,” Stan said. “That the Father’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Continuing, he added, “And that leads to a second reason why to say at the beginning of my prayers that they are in the name of Jesus.”

“What’s that?”

“How can I pray in accordance with the Father’s will,” Stan replied, “unless I know what that looks like? Just because I say I’m praying in accordance with His will, or in the name of Jesus, doesn’t mean that I am. More often I pray in accordance with the will of someone else, usually me.”

“You pray according to your will, not necessarily in accordance with the will of the Father,” I said. “Is that it?”

“That’s it,” Stan replied. “And it seems to me that if, at the beginning of my prayers, I truly come before God  praying in Jesus’s name and asking to be led to pray in accordance with His will, my prayers will be in accordance with God’s will, not mine.”

“And, thus, be more effective?” I said.

“More effective,” Stan replied, “at least in the sense of acknowledging my surrender to the will of the Father at the beginning of my prayers.”

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Bible verses to consider:

Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name. John 16:23.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. John 15:16.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you allow me to come before you in the name of Jesus. I ask you to lead my prayers so they are in accordance with your will. I confess that too often my prayers are centered on what I want without adequate thought given to whether my prayers are in accordance with your will. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me to always come before you with prayers that agree with your will, whatever that will may be. Thank you, Father, for showing me how to pray in your Son’s name. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious provision through the cross of Christ so you can come before the Father in the name of Jesus? If no, why? What is keeping you separated from God for all of eternity? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how is your prayer life? Do you seek God’s will for your prayers? Do you tend to pray and tell God things He already knows? Are your prayers self-focused without any real thought as to what God has for you to pray about? If you sense the need for any change in how you pray, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?

As Ricky poured our first cup of coffee, he said, “Do you guys know what you want for breakfast, or do you need some more time?”

Stan spoke up, “I’ll have the usual. Two blueberry pancakes with a side of scrambled eggs. Scrambled soft. No salt.”

“You got it,” Ricky replied. “How about you?” He said to me.

“I’ll have the same, but make it three pancakes and no eggs.”

“That’s not quite the same,” Ricky said with a smile, but I’ll tell Cook that’s what you guys want!”

After Ricky hurried off, Stan said, “Did you notice the theological discussion going on there?”

“What?” I replied. “What are you talking about?”

“Simple point,” Stan responded. “We were talking about what we wanted for breakfast. When I pray, too often it’s the same thing.”

“What same thing?”

“I tell God what I want,” Stan said, “when what I really should be doing is praying for what I need.”

“Oh,” I replied, “wants versus needs. Do you really think that makes a difference in how you pray?”

“I do,” Stan said. “I don’t think God is sitting up in heaven just waiting for me to ask Him for what I want. He already knows that. I believe He’s waiting for me to ask Him for what I need.”

“To pray for what you need?” I replied. “How are you going to know that?”

“Ask Him,” Stan said with a smile. “I am to ask God to open me to see what I need in my life. When I pray that way, asking God for what I need, that is what He shows me!”

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Bible verses to consider:

And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19.

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16.

Your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8.

For the Lord hears the needy. Psalm 69:33.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving your only begotten Son as the way to all I need to have life eternally in your presence, beginning here and continuing on into eternity. Thank you, too, for providing all I need to live this life as you intend. I confess that too often I ask you for things I want that are not necessarily the same as what I need. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me to follow every step of your lead so I only ask you for what I need, and do not ask you for what I want when what I want is different from what you know I need. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious provision of all you need to spend eternity in His presence? If no, why? Why do you choose to remain separated from Him? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with your prayers? Are they more about what you want, rather than what God knows you need? If you sense a desire for change in how you pray, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?

I saw Ricky approaching the table with our breakfast. He was holding his hand in front of Stan’s stack of blueberry pancakes because there was a lit candle sticking out of them. As he sat the plate in front of Stan, I joined him and Cook in singing, “Happy Birthday” to Stan. When we were finished singing, Ricky said to Stan, “The pancakes are our gift to you on your special day!”

“Thank you!” Stan said. “What a great gift!”

“Enjoy,” Ricky said before he left. Cook added, “If you want some more just let us know!”

“Will do,” Stan replied, as he poured on the pure maple syrup and got ready to thank the Lord for His provision of food and friends.

After Stan had taken a few bites of the pancakes, he said, “This is a fabulous gift. The best blueberry pancakes I’ve ever tasted! This reminds me of what Jesus said about good gifts.”

“What’s that?” I asked. “And please don’t tell me that Jesus talked about blueberry pancakes.”

“He didn’t.” Stan replied with a laugh. “But Jesus did talk about how a father knows about giving good gifts to his children, and how our heavenly Father knows much more about giving good gifts.”

“How so?”

“Let’s take a quick look at this,” Stan said. “The disciples had asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. At one point when Jesus was instructing them, He talked about how earthly fathers know how to give their children gifts.”

“In what way?” I asked.

“By a contrast,” Stan replied. “Jesus said that if a child asks his father for a fish, the father won’t give him a snake. Or if the child asks for an egg, that the father won’t give the child a scorpion.”

“What’s the point of that?” I asked.

“Jesus went on to point out that even though earthly fathers may know how to give good gifts to their children, the Father in heaven knows even more about giving good gifts to those who ask.”

“Did Jesus talk about any particular kind of good gift?”

“That’s an interesting question,” Stan replied. “In Matthew’s version of what Jesus said, there is no particular limitation. Jesus said that His Father knows what good gifts to give. But Luke has it a little different.”

“In what way?” I asked.

“Luke writes about the ‘good gift’ of the Holy Spirit, and he writes that the Father gives the good gift of the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”

“Wow!” I said. “Good gifts from the Father, including the Holy Spirit, to those who ask!”

“Indeed, my friend,” Stan replied. “Good gifts for the asking. I got these fabulous blueberry pancakes without even having to ask. Just think about what I, along with everyone else, can get by asking!”

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Bible verses to consider:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. Luke 11:13.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11.

You do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the gift of salvation and redemption through the cross of Christ. Thank you, too, for all of your gifts that allow me to live this life with and for you, including the gift of the Holy Spirit. I confess that too often I do not ask for all that you have for me, and I do not claim the gifts you are willing to provide. Please forgive the foolishness of that. And please help me to follow every step of your lead in asking, receiving, and claiming all you have for me. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted the free and gracious gift of salvation and redemption through the finished work of Jesus’ cross? If no, why? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with asking, receiving, and embracing all that God has for you? If you sense the need for change in any of that, how is it going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?

“The other day,” Stan commented while we were waiting for our breakfast, “I was reading in Luke’s gospel about Jesus’ parable of the sower.”

“That’s an interesting parable,” I replied. “Lots of different parts to it.”

“You’re right,” Stan said. “Jesus was talking about a lot of different people, but I was mainly focused on the first group of people. Maybe later we can talk about other parts of the parable.”

“Okay,” I replied. “Remind me about the first group of people. Who were they?”

They were the ones on the side of the road when the sower came along sowing the word of God. The word that was being sown fell on the side of the road, but then Satan came along.”

“Yeah,” I said, “it seems like Satan always shows up and tries to ruin things!”

“You’re right about that,” Stan replied. “And in this instance, Satan did a whole lot more than just try to ruin things. He actually caused some serious damage.”

“What kind of serious damage?”

“It says that Satan took away the word from the hearts of those people, so that they didn’t believe and weren’t saved.”

“Didn’t believe and weren’t saved,” I replied. “Serious damage indeed!”

“Like for all of eternity,” Stan said. “And that’s a long time to not be saved because of unbelief.”

“Do you think those people could have avoided that?” I asked.

“I do,” Stan replied “As well, it seems to me that it’s the same thing today.”

“What same thing?”

“That people can avoid not believing and not being saved.”

“How?”

“Don’t just stand on the side of the road when the sower of the word of God comes along. They need to hear the word of God and do something about it. They need to do something other than just letting Satan do what he wants to do!”

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Bible verses to consider:

The sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell beside the road; and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. Luke 8:5.

And those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved. Luke 8:12.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved, for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sowing the truth of your provision of life eternally with you. Thank you for those who sowed that truth into me so I could accept it. I confess that too often I don’t sow the seed of your word so that others may come to the truth and have their lives and eternal destinations changed forever. Please help me to help them not just stand on the side of the road, but to hear, accept, and live your word in their lives. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Are you no longer standing on the side of the road in the sense that you know you will spend eternity in God’s presence because you have accepted what He sowed? If no, why? Why do you want to stay on the side of the road? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with sowing God’s word so that others can accept it and no longer be on the side of the road? If you sense the need for change, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?

“Do you ever think about what would happen if Ricky didn’t listen to what we said when we told him what we want for breakfast,” Stan asked me one morning after Ricky had taken our orders for Cook to fix our breakfast.

“I can’t say that I have,” I replied. “Why do you ask?”

“Well,” Stan said, “what do you think would happen?”

“If Ricky didn’t listen? I suppose Cook wouldn’t know what we want, he wouldn’t know what to fix, and we wouldn’t get what we want.”

“Exactly,” Stan replied. “And the same thing applies to me and my faith walk with God through the time I spend with Him each day.”

“You mean the time you spend journaling through the Bible?”

“That’s it,” Stan said. “The other day I was talking to a neighbor about that. He wanted to know more about the journaling I do each morning in my time with God.”

“What’d he want to know?”

“Several things,” Stan replied, “but his main focus was on wanting to do the same thing. He said he had tried to do it, but it was too hard for him to wake up, get out of bed, and do it.”

“I can relate to that,” I said. “I like to stay asleep in a warm bed!”

“I understand,” Stan replied. “I was the same way before God stepped in and did something similar to what He did with Peter, John, and James on the Mount of Transfiguration.”

“The Mount of Transfiguration?”

“Yeah,” Stan replied. “As you may remember, at one point Jesus and those three disciples went up on a mountain and Jesus was transfigured.”

“I do remember,” I said. “Jesus’ appearance changed; He looked different. But how does that have anything to do with you and your journaling?”

“It’s what Luke wrote in his gospel account of that experience,” Stan said. “Luke wrote that the disciples were asleep, but when they woke up that’s when it happened.”

“What happened?”

“God spoke and told them to listen to Jesus,” Stan replied. “It’s pretty much what I experience every morning.”

“In what way?”

“God wakes me up and, in essence, says, ‘Come on, I have some things for you to listen to.’ I get up, go to my desk, open my Bible, ask God to show and tell me all that He has for me, and then I start journaling about that.”

“Do you really think that can happen with everyone?” I asked rather skeptically.

“I do,” Stan replied. “If God can do what He has done with me, He can do it with anyone! All that is required is to wake up and listen.”

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Bible verses to consider:

Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. Luke 9:32.

And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him.” Luke 9:35.

We were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased” — and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 2 Peter 1:16-18.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving your only begotten Son so that all who believe in Him can be in your eternal presence. Thank you that such eternal presence can begin on this side of eternity as I draw ever closer to you and listen in a deepening personal relationship. I confess that too often I do not listen to you and Jesus because I choose to not listen. Please forgive the foolishness of not listening to all you have to show and tell me about living this life for you and your kingdom. Help me to want to listen. Help me to actually listen by following every step of your lead in that direction. Thank you that I can and do  bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you listened to God in the sense that you have accepted His free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him? If no, why? Why do you want to stay separated from Him for all of eternity? That’s a long time! If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with listening to all that God has to show and tell you? If you sense the need for change in wanting to listen — and in actually listening, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?

Stan’s main takeaway for each day this past week.

The full version of each posting can be found at www.waiting4thetrain.com

Note: Please forward this to friends, family, colleagues, etc. as a way to introduce them to Stan,  S. Tory Teller, and the conversations about faith, discipleship, and what it means to be a Christian.

Also, don’t forget that S. Tory Teller’s book, the 100-day devotional, Waiting for the Train — Biblical Food for Growing Before Going, is available from amazon.com, other on-line book sellers, and directly from the publisher at www.s-toryteller.com 

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Monday, March 20 (Should it be at the beginning of my prayers?) —We often end our prayers with something like, “I pray all of these things in the name of Jesus.” Am I really praying in His name?

Tuesday, March 21 (Wanting what you need)— Prayers often focus on what we want from God, not on what He knows we need from Him. What is the focus of my prayers?

Wednesday, March 22 (Good gifts) — God knows all there is to know about giving good gifts. Have we accepted, received, and embraced all He has to give us?

Thursday, March 23 (Doing something other than what Satan wants) — When the word of God is sown, Satan wants to take it away. Why would we allow him to do that?

Friday, March 24 (Wake up and listen) — If we are going to see and hear what God has for us, we have to wake up and listen. How’s that going?