"Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this." (1 Thessalonians 3:1-3)
Have you ever had the opportunity to present someone with the Gospel, and then see how the Gospel changed their lives? How did you feel afterwards? Did you have a burden for them like Paul did for the church in Thessalonica? A burden to hear how they were growing in the faith and to offer encouragement? Today's text not only reveals the heart of Paul, but it also serves as a mirror of our own hearts when it comes to making disciples. Join me as we look together into this mirror.
Make Disciples
In Matthew 28 Jesus gave what is called the Great Commission. His command basically was to go, make disciples, to baptise the disciples, and to teach them to obey all that Jesus taught. This passage is a favourite of missionaries and evangelists alike, and many sermons have been preached from pulpits throughout the world, all commanding us to go out.
However, this command has unfortunately not been strictly obeyed by many. It seems as though it has been rewritten to say, go and make converts. It has often come across by many so-called evangelists today that the number of converts one has made is indicative of the success of their ministries. After crusades by many of these teachers you often hear comments like, "We had 10,000 decisions for Christ." Some evangelists have been criticised over the years for going into the middle of Africa, running crusades where thousands of decisions for Christ have been made, only to leave the country with no follow up. Those who have made a decision are left stranded in the middle of the ocean of faith.
This is not what Jesus meant when He said, "make disciples," for a disciple in not merely someone who has made a decision, but rather one who follows wholeheartedly and is nurtured in the faith by a dedicated teacher.
Paul a Perfect Example
In our text above from 1 Thessalonians, Paul is a perfect example of a disciple maker. He was not merely interested in the people in Thessalonica making a decision for Christ, but he had a deep, wholehearted burden for them. He knew that they were going to face trials. That their lives were not going to be cosy and trouble free. He was truly interested in how they were doing. Therefore he sent his "child in the faith," his disciple, Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2), to go and minister to them.
We see Paul's concern for other believers throughout his letters. In most of his epistles he tells of how he is praying for them. He guides them not only in terms of what they as churches should or should not be doing, but also in their faith as individuals. This concern is key to true discipleship.
Our Disciples
Do you exhibit the same concern for other believers like Paul and the rest of the apostles did? Are there people in your life whose lives you are giving of yourself too? Do the heartaches and difficulties of believers that you know affect you too? Are you following up on the growth of those whom you have had an influence on in terms of coming to the faith?
If not, then unfortunately you may be missing the boat on what it means to make disciples. Maybe you need to question yourself to see if you are really interested in making disciples or merely converts. To make disciples requires work, commitment, concern, and a deep rooted desire to see people growing in the faith. It is not about how many we bring to the faith, but rather about how deep the relationship is of those we bring to the faith.
Just a Thought!
© 2013
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