Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
2 Timothy 2:1-2
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
Diedrich Bonhoffer, the great German theologian of the 20th Century said regarding discipleship: “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ”. Such a powerful statement. If discipleship is not a key component of our Christian life, we are missing it. Our Christian life is not meant to be lived in cruise control, but rather we are called to exemplify Christ’s example of making disciples who in turn go and make disciples.
The apostle Paul in his personal letter to Timothy gives a blueprint for the Christian on how to make disciples. The key word used here in 2 Timothy 2 to express how to make disciples is the word entrust. See, Paul knew quite a bit on what it looks like to entrust due to his experiences. Acts 9 tells us that he met the Lord and got saved on the Damascus Road. Soon afterwards there were Christians in Damascus who chose to invest in his life and entrust what they learned about following Christ to him. (Acts 9:19). As he went on in ministry he found a young man named Timothy who mentored and discipled as well. Now as he is at the end of his life, he encourages Timothy to choose to do the same with his life. For Paul discipleship went beyond programs and events, it was all about relationships and investment in others’ lives.
As we continue to grow in our Christian life, our desire ought to be to invest in the lives of others, entrusting what we have learned and encouraging them to do the same. The Lord has placed believers on our hearts and in our paths to invest in for their spiritual growth. What does this look like practically? It looks like inviting that brother/sister in Christ, of the same gender, to go through the scriptures with you over a cup of coffee. It is intentionally going to work out with a few other Christians, and as you work out you share struggles, prayer requests, praises, and what God is teaching you. There are many ways you can go about discipling others, but the call is to actually step out and do it!
So who is it that you are currently investing in? Who is currently investing in you? If there’s no one, spend time in prayer and ask the Lord to bring to mind fellow believers who He may be calling you to connect with. Growth and maturity in the Christian life is not going to come in our lives or in the lives of others by way of osmosis. The Lord has given us the opportunity to be a part in His kingdom work in discipling others. Let’s choose not to waste that opportunity, but rather choose to be strengthened in the grace of the Lord and make disciples! You can do it!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for me! Thank you for those who have invested in my life in the past. Give me a passion and desire to make disciples for Your glory. Give me the burden to be a part of the disciple’s cycle. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
1 John 4:4
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.