You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 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. 2 Timothy 2:1-2
I am able to sit here and work through the application and meaning of a living Christian faith and meaningful relationship with God because the early church followed Paul's admonition. This is the process whereby the world is changed. One life after another trusts in Jesus for eternal salvation and life direction. And the goal is for each life to reach others. In that way, God is winning the world to Himself.
The obvious place for me to consider being the man who follows this charge (just like Timothy did) is in my ministry. I am fortunate enough to have the finest job in the world. But it is not a career, it is a calling. And discipleship is part of the call of the pastor. I certainly am overjoyed to have the chance to do this daily in a professional sense. But really I think this charge is more personal.
I ask myself this question: Would I really be a discipler if my career was working as a printer again? Could I find faithful men to entrust the truth to if I worked again in a computer room? If telecommunications were again my life's vocation, would I be faithful to the task of discipleship? This is the way that I need to view these words!
So where can I renew at this level? It starts at home. I am convicted to be a discipling dad with my kids, a failure I have had in the past. I am convicted to look for evangelism and discipleship opportunities among my neighbors and my contacts here in this small town of DeSoto. I am called to find the faithful people who will come to Christ, mature in faith, and passionately carry on the gospel. It starts in my household, extends to my community, and impacts the world in the place where I am.
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 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. 2 Timothy 2:1-2
I am able to sit here and work through the application and meaning of a living Christian faith and meaningful relationship with God because the early church followed Paul's admonition. This is the process whereby the world is changed. One life after another trusts in Jesus for eternal salvation and life direction. And the goal is for each life to reach others. In that way, God is winning the world to Himself.
The obvious place for me to consider being the man who follows this charge (just like Timothy did) is in my ministry. I am fortunate enough to have the finest job in the world. But it is not a career, it is a calling. And discipleship is part of the call of the pastor. I certainly am overjoyed to have the chance to do this daily in a professional sense. But really I think this charge is more personal.
I ask myself this question: Would I really be a discipler if my career was working as a printer again? Could I find faithful men to entrust the truth to if I worked again in a computer room? If telecommunications were again my life's vocation, would I be faithful to the task of discipleship? This is the way that I need to view these words!
So where can I renew at this level? It starts at home. I am convicted to be a discipling dad with my kids, a failure I have had in the past. I am convicted to look for evangelism and discipleship opportunities among my neighbors and my contacts here in this small town of DeSoto. I am called to find the faithful people who will come to Christ, mature in faith, and passionately carry on the gospel. It starts in my household, extends to my community, and impacts the world in the place where I am.
