Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to follow all that I have commanded you faithfully. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Make Disciples
We are called to "make disciples."
I remember first accepting Christ.
During a Cursillo weekend, God wrestled all my arguments to the ground and exchanged His life for mine.
Interestingly this weekend was designed to be a renewal weekend for Christians.
Being raised in a church, I slipped in because I was evangelically housetrained and had been masquerading as a Christian for years.
The weekend is designed to renew believers and send them out as the church.
At the end of the weekend, we were told as a group to go back to our church and say to the pastor that we were willing to do anything needed, even if it meant cleaning toilets.
I remember the sly grin on my pastor's face as I shared with him my passion for being a part of the church in any way he saw I could be helpful.
I figured I would be cleaning toilets, and I didn't get off that easy.
He smiled and said he had just the place for me, leading the middle school Sunday school class.
Oh, how I wished I could have had the toilet cleaning job!
My first thought was that I didn't know enough or even how to teach. The pastor encouraged me to try it, just like the last six people who took the position over the past three years!
Tough assignment, no doubt, yet I said, "Yes!".
To Teach Is To Learn Twice
Something happened at that moment.
I realized I now must start learning so that I could teach.
I remembered something from my past. To teach is to learn twice.
You have to learn it to teach it, and then in the process, you learn when you teach.
There couldn't have been a more significant time of growth for me as a new believer.
First, I was placed in a position of dependence upon God to lead me.
Second I was in a place of utmost importance in teaching young people to follow Him.
Lastly, it kept me on my toes to learn His word and translate it into a 7th and 8th-grade language that could be relevant and transforming in their lives.
Regardless of your position in the church, find someone to disciple if you want to grow into the likeness of Jesus.
Who are you walking with to help grow in the likeness of Jesus?
Lord, thank You for Your ways. I love spending time with You as I spend time with others. Amen