I have recently been challenged about the process of making disciples and how God’s ultimate calling to us is to do this. Jesus made this clear: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Matt. 28:19.
The problem with most of us in this process is that we gather information but it doesn’t necessarily translate to life change. What I mean is that giving out information in a Bible Study or sermon, though valuable, does not always lead us to action. True discipleship makes us ask, “What is God saying to us?” That should lead us to the second part of the question “What will I do about what God is saying?”
Many times we get stumped by not even believing that God is speaking to us. We feel that hearing from God is for some super saint that has a direct line to God. In God’s eyes, we are all that special and He wants us to hear His voice so that we can know what He is leading us to do. When we begin to hear from God, our next response is to act on what we have heard. For
instance, if God asks you to go volunteer at a homeless shelter then the response should be to find out what homeless shelters are in your area and go offer to be a volunteer. Hearing from God must lead to action. We are motivated by God’s love for us, not guilt.
Making disciples is a lifestyle not a weekly event. You have to live life with those God has put in your life to disciple. Jesus walked daily with his disciples for 3 years. My point here is to say that discipleship is a process of investment not just a weekly meeting. Going through life with folks brings you to a level of relationship that allows them to speak into your life as well. The scripture teaches us in Proverbs 27:17“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
What I hope is that you will be stirred to invest in another person the truths and changed-life that God has poured into you. Let’s call this the “Discipleship Challenge”… will you take it?