Awakening to Discipleship: A Journey of Faith and Obedience
Last week was a whirlwind for me, balancing my regular job, running errands, and trying to keep up with my store site and marketing efforts. By Saturday evening, exhaustion had taken its toll. I had resolved to simply catch the church service online the following day.
At 9:15 AM, one of my dogs nudged me awake for their morning routine. As I stumbled out of bed, I grabbed my phone and headed downstairs. While scrolling through Facebook, IΒ came upon the live stream link for the 9:00 AM service. Despite my initial inclination to wait for the 11:00 AM service, a gentle prompting urged me to tune in then and there.
The sermon centered around Acts 8:26-36, focusing on "the cost of being a disciple." However, that's not the sermon the Spirit had me hear.Β For those of you unfamiliar with Acts 8:26-36, it's the story of Philip's encounter with the eunuch.Β Until yesterday, I had never heard this scripture.Β Essentially, the eunuch, a court official from Ethiopia, had journeyed to Jerusalem and was now returning home. Along the way, he was engrossed in reading the Book of Isaiah. Meanwhile, Philip, a devoted follower of Christ, was directed by an Angel of God to journey from Samaria to Gaza, a journey of around 100 miles. Despite the inconvenience and comfort of his current location, Philip obeyed without hesitation or complaint. As he traveled, he encountered the chariot carrying the eunuch.Β Β Philip was instructed to "draw closer".Β As he did, he heard the eunuch reading Isiah aloud and he asked "Do you understand what you are reading?" to which the eunuch replied "How can I unless a man instructs me?"Β And so, Philip climbed aboard the chariot and began teaching the eunuch.Β They read through the verses and spoke of the meanings of each until they came upon a body of water.Β At this point the eunuch speaks out saying "There is a body of water!Β What prevents me from being baptized now?"Β This is theΒ message that the Spirit stirred me awake to ensure I heard clearly.
Though I was baptized at the age of 10, I realized that I had never truly embraced discipleship. My understanding of faith was incomplete. The Spirit urged me to consider the significance of this sacrament in light of my newfound understanding.
I hesitantly typed a question into the live stream chat, seeking clarity. The pastor's response affirmed what I had been wrestling with internally. And yet, it was during the service's conclusion that clarity truly dawned upon me.Β
This past Sunday coincided with Baptism Sunday at Victory Church, where I've been attending since summer of 2022. Amidst a whirlwind of emotions and doubts, I made the decision to follow the Spirit's prompting and go to our North Cobb campus and be baptized. On my drive there, doubts began to creep in. As I wondered whatΒ some would think of my "worthiness", the spirit reminded me, none are worthy, but all are given grace.Β Β
Sitting in the sanctuary, I listened intently to the pastor's words. Though his sermon, too, was on the cost of discipleship, I again heard a different messageβone of blessings and purpose. Philip had met a man, searching for knowledge because he obeyed without hesitation.Β That man then took what he had learned and taught it to others in his own land.Β Both were true disciples of Jesus.Β Reflecting on my own journey, I realized the significance of embracing discipleship in fulfilling Christ's commandment to make disciples of all nations.
This realization held profound personal significance for me. Through God's guidance, I launched Godβs Girl Gifts and Apparel with a clear directive: "Go and Make Disciples of All Nations" (Matthew 28:19). How could I fulfill this calling without fully embracing discipleship myself?
So, on Sunday, April 28, 2024, I publicly declared my commitment to follow Christ as a disciple. When the Spirit speaks, you listen. And in obedience, I took the step towards a deeper, more authentic faith journey.Β When I came up out of the water, I literally jumped into the arms of my friend, Julie, who had baptized me. Words fail to capture the overwhelming sensation that washed over me. It was a feeling of pure, unbridled joy unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I pray that those of you who have yet to experience the profound blessing of baptism, which brings true liberation from sin and inspires unwavering commitment to Christ, will one day have this transformative encounter.
At 9:15 AM, one of my dogs nudged me awake for their morning routine. As I stumbled out of bed, I grabbed my phone and headed downstairs. While scrolling through Facebook, IΒ came upon the live stream link for the 9:00 AM service. Despite my initial inclination to wait for the 11:00 AM service, a gentle prompting urged me to tune in then and there.
The sermon centered around Acts 8:26-36, focusing on "the cost of being a disciple." However, that's not the sermon the Spirit had me hear.Β For those of you unfamiliar with Acts 8:26-36, it's the story of Philip's encounter with the eunuch.Β Until yesterday, I had never heard this scripture.Β Essentially, the eunuch, a court official from Ethiopia, had journeyed to Jerusalem and was now returning home. Along the way, he was engrossed in reading the Book of Isaiah. Meanwhile, Philip, a devoted follower of Christ, was directed by an Angel of God to journey from Samaria to Gaza, a journey of around 100 miles. Despite the inconvenience and comfort of his current location, Philip obeyed without hesitation or complaint. As he traveled, he encountered the chariot carrying the eunuch.Β Β Philip was instructed to "draw closer".Β As he did, he heard the eunuch reading Isiah aloud and he asked "Do you understand what you are reading?" to which the eunuch replied "How can I unless a man instructs me?"Β And so, Philip climbed aboard the chariot and began teaching the eunuch.Β They read through the verses and spoke of the meanings of each until they came upon a body of water.Β At this point the eunuch speaks out saying "There is a body of water!Β What prevents me from being baptized now?"Β This is theΒ message that the Spirit stirred me awake to ensure I heard clearly.
Though I was baptized at the age of 10, I realized that I had never truly embraced discipleship. My understanding of faith was incomplete. The Spirit urged me to consider the significance of this sacrament in light of my newfound understanding.
I hesitantly typed a question into the live stream chat, seeking clarity. The pastor's response affirmed what I had been wrestling with internally. And yet, it was during the service's conclusion that clarity truly dawned upon me.Β
This past Sunday coincided with Baptism Sunday at Victory Church, where I've been attending since summer of 2022. Amidst a whirlwind of emotions and doubts, I made the decision to follow the Spirit's prompting and go to our North Cobb campus and be baptized. On my drive there, doubts began to creep in. As I wondered whatΒ some would think of my "worthiness", the spirit reminded me, none are worthy, but all are given grace.Β Β
Sitting in the sanctuary, I listened intently to the pastor's words. Though his sermon, too, was on the cost of discipleship, I again heard a different messageβone of blessings and purpose. Philip had met a man, searching for knowledge because he obeyed without hesitation.Β That man then took what he had learned and taught it to others in his own land.Β Both were true disciples of Jesus.Β Reflecting on my own journey, I realized the significance of embracing discipleship in fulfilling Christ's commandment to make disciples of all nations.
This realization held profound personal significance for me. Through God's guidance, I launched Godβs Girl Gifts and Apparel with a clear directive: "Go and Make Disciples of All Nations" (Matthew 28:19). How could I fulfill this calling without fully embracing discipleship myself?
So, on Sunday, April 28, 2024, I publicly declared my commitment to follow Christ as a disciple. When the Spirit speaks, you listen. And in obedience, I took the step towards a deeper, more authentic faith journey.Β When I came up out of the water, I literally jumped into the arms of my friend, Julie, who had baptized me. Words fail to capture the overwhelming sensation that washed over me. It was a feeling of pure, unbridled joy unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I pray that those of you who have yet to experience the profound blessing of baptism, which brings true liberation from sin and inspires unwavering commitment to Christ, will one day have this transformative encounter.