Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant – St. David’s Day – is celebrated annually on March 1st. This Patron Saint of Wales isn’t widely known outside of his homeland. There are no parties, parades, or turning rivers green as for St. Patrick! While several miracles are attributed to David during his ministry in the 6th Century, he is mostly remembered for his words through preaching. In what is claimed to be his final sermon, he urged believers to, “‘Be joyful [and] keep the faith…” before closing with what became an important Welsh maxim, “Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd,” – “Do the little things in life.” At the end of his life and ministry, which saw conversions and miracles and crowds, David implored joy, faith, and little things.
Life and ministry seem to demand we do (lots of!) big things right now. Joy, faith, and vital little things are often neglected. As we enter this season of Lent, we are invited to discern what is faithful, and what is temptation away from the faithful. Our calling – before preaching, teaching, leading, strategizing, protesting… or anything else – is to be disciples.
“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.
When my husband and I were planting a church, our friend and mentor, the late Steve Hayner, would remind us, “Christian leadership is not telling other people what to do. It is faithfully doing something and inviting others to join you.” If we are not engaging in our own discipleship, how can we faithfully lead and journey with others? Moreover, without discipleship, what kind of Christianity are we offering?
No-one is too important, or too advanced, or too busy with ministry, to be a disciple – to follow Jesus. Ministry leaders must ask, “What disciplines am I prioritizing and practicing?” – not (only) “What disciplines am I teaching or advocating?” God is still calling us to do the little things.
Luke 5:1-11 is often titled, The Calling of the First Disciples. Jesus is speaking to a pressing crowd – but He notices fishermen at the water’s edge, washing their nets after a disappointing night with nothing caught. Jesus gets into one of their boats, asks Simon to take it out into the water, and teaches the people from there. Jesus then tells Simon to drop the nets again. Even though this is what the men have been doing all night with no catch, Simon replies, “because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Of course, they catch so many fish that the boats begin to sink! Simon’s response to the bounty is fascinating – he doesn’t rejoice, nor does he question. Instead, he falls down and declares his sinfulness. The story ends with Jesus saying that the fishermen will become fishers of men. And they leave everything and follow Him.
What makes a “faithful disciple?” In posing this question to others, there are some consistent themes: attention to God’s word, a clear sense of call, an unwavering trust in God’s faithfulness, and an understanding of who God is and who we are – broken people in need of a Lord and Savior. It is interesting that all these factors are present in the calling of Simon, who was only just beginning his journey of discipleship.
Maybe faithful discipleship includes holding on to the “little things” – going back to basics. To be like Simon Peter – to listen, learn, worship, and follow. Because in God’s economy, the little things are actually the big things, and they allow us to, “be joyful and keep the faith.”
Questions to Ponder:
- David implored believers to be joyful, to keep the faith, and do the little things in life. What makes his exhortation challenging in your life or in the life of your community right now?
- What disciplines are you teaching or advocating to others? What disciplines are you prioritizing and practicing yourself?
- Are there “little things” that you and/or your community need to reclaim and prioritize this Lent?
- The full Bonhoeffer quote reads, “Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.” How do these words speak to you and/or into your community?
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