To BE a Disciple is to MAKE Disciples
John 8:31 “Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really My disciples.'”
While Webster’s dictionary describes a disciple as “a pupil or follower of any teacher or school of religion, learning, art, etc,” a Christian disciple follows Jesus. A Christian disciple is one who loves God with everything one has. A Christian disciple, by God’s grace, becomes more and more like Christ through a life of faith and obedience.
One thing I have learned recently is that it is easy to share the Gospel. It can be easy to lead people to the Lord. What is hard is making disciples. Too often we read Matthew 28:19 which says “Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” That sounds alright. I mean we go, we preach the Good News, we baptize people, doesn’t sound too bad, right?
But we so often leave out verse 20 which continues “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded of you…” We are not just to share the Gospel, but to build up disciples and followers of Christ.
So what does that mean?
That means that we cannot just share the Gospel and leave the person. Or fellowship with a believer and that is all. We are to train new believers in Word, relationship and ministry. We need to walk this path with them in every way as Jesus did with His disciples.
Being a true disciple of Christ means witnessing for Christ as a way of life. If we truly love Jesus, as disciples we will desire to tell others about Him and His love for us. We will desire to obey Him and all of His commandments.
So in Matthew 28:19-20 that says “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded of you…” It means to build each other up, encourage each other in Christ, train and teach them how to be followers of Christ and what obedience and devotion to God looks like.
Do not limit yourself because you see yourself as average. Don’t limit what God can do in you because He can use you in extraordinary ways. We are to live a life of devotion to Him which requires obedience, but it also involves passion. Where is our fire for God? Where is our love for Him? Not just admiration, but love! When we love God, that flows out of us into loving others as Christ loves them. Do not let your devotion be a substitute to your love for God.
Continually be faithful, continually love others…
I am currently $6,827 from my total goal of $16,561! This fundraising and support raising journey has been such a growing experience for me. Even though it was hard, I would not have had it any other way because it has helped to draw me closer to God than I have ever been before. I want to thank you again for your generosity, support and encouragement, and even more so your prayers. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.
In 3 weeks I will be driving down to Gainesville, GA for 10 days of training camp. I am so thankful I get to make this drive with my squad-mates Ruby and Walker and get to know them better during the drive down and back. It’s going to be an intense ten days, but each day I get more and more excited and less nervous. I finally have all my gear (!!) and am currently trying to figure out how I’m going to fit it all into the 2 backpacks I’ll be taking with me.
In 11 weeks I will be headed back to Gainesville, GA (this time with my mom) and will be going for launch which is 4 more days of training and then I will be flying out to Malaysia. Because it is 11 weeks away, would you consider partnering with me in giving $11 or whatever amount to help send me on this missionary journey?
If you live in Roanoke, VA: This Saturday (July 23rd), my squad-mate Ruby and I are co-hosting a car wash to raise support. It will be from 9am to 2pm at 2733 Peters Creek Rd NW. Please feel free to stop by and say hi if you’re out that way!! 🙂
Till Next Time,
Kara Faber
