So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you arecitizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God (Eph. 2:19-22, NRSV).

The essence of discipleship is learning to live as "citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God." This brings with it both blessings and responsibilities. We must learn to enjoy and share the blessings, while attending to our responsibilities.

What are the blessings? Paul calls them "the fruit of the Spirit": "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23, NRSV). Note that all these gifts reflect the character and nature of God. They are self-giving, not self-centered. With them we are equipped to experience the fullness of the life God gives us in Jesus Christ. In these blessings God shares with us God's own life. This is what the writers of the gospels mean by "eternal life."

The blessings flow from our participation in the responsibilities of life in God's household. In the house I grew up in, each child had chores to do that were our responsibilities as family members. They were our contribution to maintaining the house and to our common life.

The same is true of life in God's household. Each disciple is responsible for contributing to the common good, especially for those who do not yet know they are God's children and for those who are poor, weak, and vulnerable. Our responsibility is to keep the household rules: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. . . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:37, 39, NRSV).

We live and grow in our love of God through acts of worship and devotion. And we love our neighbors in acts of compassion and justice. Because love of God is wrapped up in how we love our neighbor, our acts of compassion and justice help keep us centered in Christ, while devotion and worship equip us to more faithfully love our neighbors. That is, loving God and loving our neighbor are so intimately wedded to each other that they cannot be separated or compartmentalized. They always go hand-in-hand.

My Covenant Discipleship group helps me make sure I do my household chores and do my best to live as a responsible child of God. As I learn to more faithfully love God and my neighbor through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I live into the blessings of life in God's household.

Steven Manskar is Director of Accountable Discipleship at the General Board of Discipleship and author of Accountable Discipleship: Living in God's Household (Discipleship Resources, 2000).