Jesus said that we are to go and make disciples.
Disciples. We are to participate in discipleship. What is discipleship? Discipleship is the replication of the ministry life of Jesus, his person and his power, that it may be transmitted to others through his disciples.
Discipleship is more than information. It is transformation.
My conversion is the beginning of my relationship with God, not the end. True repentance is a way of life, not just an entry point.
To some, discipleship is a student sitting at the feet of a teacher, learning new truths.
To others, discipleship is fulfilling a list of required duties.
But I would suggest that true discipleship is me giving you (by example, conversation, prayer and lifestyle) the life of Jesus so that you might give the life of Jesus to others.
We do that incrementally. We as Pentecostals like to go for the "big score" the "long pass" for the "touchdown" to make disciples. "Come to the altar," we say, "and experience the power of God." And there IS tremendous value in that.
But as a starting point, not an ending point.
A disciple, in the sense that Jesus portrays this, is made step by step, line by line, precept by precept, incrementally.
And we do that out of our own woundedness. Our own vulnerability. It's amazing to me that we spend an enormous amount of time trying to convince people that we are something that we are not, when in reality we can only really connect with them when we show our own faults and failures and mistakes and hurts.
We are all to be "wounded healers."
I encourage you today to be open with someone that they might receive Christ's life through you.
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1 comment:
Amen. If they don't see it in our eyes, hear it in our voice, know it in their hearts, then we've lost the battle. People just want to connect with others who can understand, empathize, and relate to their problems...the best way to do that is to have lived it in some fashion or another. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying go out and do drugs, get drunk, or anything else like that...I'm saying find a way to relate the issues in your life to others in these situations. People do these things because they're hurting and searching for some relief...relate some time in your life when you were hurting and needed relief, then prescibe the ultimate pain reliever! But the sincerity is what people are looking for...not another program, plan, piece of advice...they want a piece of our heart. And Jesus would say, give it to them!
Be like Him today...love unconditionally and forgive forever! May God bless you today and always!
Jon
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