Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus’ final instructions to us was to engage in discipleship. So how do we most effectively disciple others? Jesus said:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
Matthew 28:19-20
When Jesus instructed us to go and make disciples, He didn’t just mean teaching people the Bible and guiding them in developing a relationship with God. The essence of discipleship lies in how effectively we demonstrate love through how we love others. Because without love, we are utterly empty and insignificant.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
I Corinthians 13:1-3
When those we disciple KNOW that we love them because we are willing to go into the trenches with them—then our example encourages them to live close to Christ, who IS love.
Jesus went into the trenches of hell and did not come out until He paid the price to rescue us.
His love is enduring; so should ours be. Of the people he had discipled, Paul the apostle wrote:
“You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God…”
II Corinthians 3:2-5
I am so grateful that God gave me this message. It has challenged me to radically change the way I disciple. In addition to teaching the unwavering truth of God’s Word, I must also shower others with the boundless love of God. I need to be the hands and feet of love, so that the message of the Gospel and the work of discipleship has depth, meaning, and is so irresistible that each person passionately desires God.
God is love; and when we disciple His way—we do it with love!
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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9 Responses
I have been challenged a lot because I help people that have made a mess of their lives and people feel like I shouldn’t do anything for them because of it. I feel like I should help anyone regardless of how they screwed their life up or if they did or if they didn’t because I feel like I should if I can. would love to hear your opinion about this matter.
Amen
Blessings to you!
Amen. Thank you
Thank you!
I absolutely love this. There is good in this world. Giving someone something that is yours is definitely an act of kindness. This can be done in so many different ways. But when it’s done with the Love of God it is given a whole new meaning and feel to the giver and receiver. This Love is a completely different Love than that of just another stranger being kind and lending a helping hand.
Love speaks in a way that nothing else does!
AMEN!
Have a blessed day!