Disciples

ive been reading the book Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell and in one of the chapters i got a better understanding of what a disciple really is. the way it used to work back then was that students would do their schooling and at age 14 they would go out and find a rabbi that they appreciated and they would ask the rabbi if they could follow. if the rabbi said, "go home and learn your family business" that meant that the rabbi didnt think the young man had what it took to follow his yoke. meaning follow in his footsteps, or view scripture in the same way as he did. BUT if the rabbi responded, "come, follow me" then that meant that the rabbi knew that this young man was up for the challenge. soooo just so you keep up, a disciple is someone that not only views scripture in the same light BUT somebody that actually strives to be just like the rabbi they follow! so then here comes Jesus and people saw Him as a Rabbi and just like tradition follows, Jesus says to 12 boys/men, "come, follow me" and they came, they follow and even after Jesus left they continued to walk in His footsteps and continue His mission. well....what do you think we are! we are disciples of Christ! we have made the commitment to follow Him. and i love that cause not only are we seeing things His way but we try to be more and more like Him! sanctification, the continuation of our salvation! something that isnt complete until we are united with Christ in Heaven!!! so anyway, all that to say the part that touched my heart the most. i assume most of you know about the story of all the disciples in the boat with Jesus when a storm kicks up and Jesus steps out of the boat and walks on the water. paul asks to walk to Him. he takes a few steps and then falls in the water. the point that rob presses here is not that paul lost faith in Christ!!! how could he!?! Jesus was standing right there in plain sight on top of the water? paul lost faith in himself. what we need to realize is that God chose each of you. He knew that you were up for the challenge and so He said, "come, follow me". not only do you have faith in God, but HE has faith in YOU. He chose you, so He must know that you are capable of amazing things! i just loved that. Gods love is so huge, it gets bigger and bigger and im trilled to be able to live this life and know that its only going to become bigger and bigger as i follow Him :)