In the quiet moments of our lives, there is often a whisper, a longing deep within our souls that beckons us to something greater, something beyond ourselves. It is a spiritual desire, a yearning for meaning, purpose, and connection with the Divine. This journey of the soul, this quest for understanding, is at the heart of discipleship.
Discipleship is more than a mere academic pursuit or a religious obligation. It is a journey of the heart, a journey of transformation, as one man walks alongside another, exploring the depths of our spiritual desires and seeking to understand who God says He is and how He reveals Himself in the Bible.
I was fortunate to encounter a man I now describe as a Marketplace Ambassador, who reached out to me during a dark period in my life. As with many do to my circumstances, I was open to “anything” even God. At a time when I trusted no one, he took the time to build a relationship of trust based on genuine care. We embarked on a journey of life-on-life discipleship. He gave me space to watch him, ask questions and explore God with no overt expectations. This process planted a seed in my life that would change me for eternity. It led me to Christ and started me on my journey of spiritual growth.
During this remarkable journey, I experienced a surrendered life. I learned to be led by the Holy Spirit, and I became committed to developing a biblical worldview that informs my values and governs my behavior. It was a journey of discovery, of deepening faith, and of transformation.
Discipleship to Jesus Christ is a process that was born the moment Jesus selected His first followers. As He walked along the Sea of Galilee inviting men to "follow me and I will make you fishers of men," He was actively engaged in discipleship. They spent time together, laughed, cried, and learned timeless truths from the ordinary occurrences of daily life as well as from instruction. They did life together.
Discipleship must have been extremely important to Jesus because it was the last thing He discussed with His closest friends before He ascended into heaven. We call it the Great Commission. The heart of Matthew 28:18-20 is that we are to be in the process of making disciples wherever we are, whatever we do.
Matthew 28:18-20 says: “then Jesus came to them and said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What I love about the Matthew verse is the part where God says, “and surely I am with you!” I want to be with God more and in discipleship He promises that. So more discipleship for me!
I have seen discipleship defined as the intentional process of teaching and encouraging a person to be an obedient, passionate, intimate, loving disciple of Christ. I've also heard it described as helping another grow spiritually in the context of a relationship that leads to the discipleship of others. Both are true, and God has given me the privilege of passing on to others what was passed on to me. And now, I am experiencing the joy of seeing them pass it on to others. We call it spiritual reproduction or multiplication. Life-on-life discipleship is God's plan A for multiplying spiritual reproducers.
The journey of discipleship is not a solitary one. It is a journey that we undertake together, as one man with another, exploring the spiritual desires of our souls and seeking to understand who God is and how He reveals Himself in the Bible. It is a journey of transformation, of deepening faith, and of multiplying spiritual reproducers. It is a journey that leads us to the very heart of God.