Five-minute read.
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.โ
Matthew 28:20
Discipleship requires teaching. According to Websterโs 1828 Dictionary, Disciple means โ๐ข ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ข ๐ด๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ข๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฆ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ง๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฆ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ถ๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ข๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ด๐ค๐ช๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ต๐ฐ.โx ย Born Oct. 16th, 1758, Noah Websterโs faith grew when he had a family. Raised in a Christian home, his father served as a deacon. However, Webster didnโt engage in his faith until 1808 when his daughters, Emily (17) and Julia (15), attended a revival meeting and had a conversion experience. Inviting their parents, Noah and Rebecca, they too felt “Godโs touch,โ and their lives changed forever.x ย ย
Websterโs discipleship came through his definition of language, heavily influenced by his faith. At age 70, after decades of research, it had 70,000 entries, more than any other dictionary.xi ย At the time, people learned to read with the Bible, used in schools and at home. Defining the words found in scripture will draw anyone closer to the Lord. I did an entire devotional, ๐๐ข๐ช๐ญ๐บ ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฅ: ๐ 365-๐๐ข๐บ ๐๐ฑ๐ช๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐บ ๐๐ฉ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆxii that looked at the original meaning of a word each day, and I learned more than I ever imagined.ย
Godโs word teaches us how to live like Jesus. Through the pages of the Bible, we meet ordinary people who live extraordinary lives because of their faith. The Old Testament points to the need for the Savior, and all things work for the good of those who trust and believe in the Lord. By learning what God commands, we can do what He says. When we practice Christ’s teachings, we will experience life change.
For example, Jesus tells us to forgive 7 times 70. He gives us that command for our sake, not the offenders. When we hold onto unforgiveness, we plant seeds of bitterness in our hearts, which will then produce bitter fruit. But forgiveness defeats bitterness by planting seeds of grace that will grow and produce mercy. Holding onto an offense only hurts you. Once you let go of the hurt and give it to God, you will experience freedom. And the Lord never leaves you, with you through it all.
Jesus sets an example for us to follow, teaching us to obey His commands. The Lord doesnโt expect us to do it alone; He travels with us until the end. Learn from the scriptures and allow them to transform your life, as Noah Webster let them transform his. Become more like Jesus as you implement His teachings into your life.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for discipling us and showing us how to live. Please give us the tools we need to implement and follow Your commands. As we strive to become more like Jesus, bless our efforts.
IJNIP. Amen
ix https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/disciple
x https://noahwebsterhouse.org/noah-webster-and-religion/
xi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster%27s_Dictionary
