I know there's talk about discipleship everywhere right now. David Platt and Francis Chan just came out with some awesome books about it. I see the youth pastor at my church discipling kids and teaching them. I see a lot of talk about discipleship, not a lot of people actually doing it.
This world is DRAGGING our kids into temptation and sin. They are being drowned with pictures, advertisements, friends, everything possible to pull them into the world that we as believers are so called to be in it but not of it.
I'm not saying generations before didn't have it bad. They did. But it is only and will only continue to get worse as time goes on.
I can't stress how important one on one discipleship is. When I think about those older than me who have come to me and spent time with me with genuine interest, I'm amazed at the impact it has had.
Recently, with my change of relationship status I was at a family from church's house and she asked me questions starting with, "Are you guarding your purity?" She then proceeded to tell me that she wasn't assuming anything or being nosy, but she knows that if she doesn't ask, no one else will. This woman has done this through several phases of my life, always gently asking questions, and being loving and hospital always. This is more of what we need in this generation.
I know so many friends my age, give or take a bit, who are passionately following Jesus and have a heart for Him and His ministry. And not all of us are using that to reach out. I'm not using that. I should be, though. And not everyone should be discipling other people! I have friends who are actively living in sin and falling into temptation with their friends and then tell me they're not going to stop hanging out with them because they're the only Christian influence in their life... But if they are giving in, what kind of a Christian influence are they sending out!? Our personal salvation is important. So important. And we should work it out with fear and trembling! Those who are giving into temptation continually need to be discipled more and be able to walk away from it before they can have Christian influence on their friends who do not know Christ. But I know friends who, like me, know that God has called us to a life of purity and of Holiness. To be completely set apart! I have friends who would barely think twice when faced with temptation because scripture from their daily reading, prayer, or the Holy Spirit is there to remind them Who they are living for. These are the people who should be sharing their faith and discipling others. This doesn't mean they're perfect or I'm perfect.. We still sin, and we will always fight with that sin nature, but I'm saying that these are people who actively pursue Godliness and Holiness and are showing fruits of their faith.
There could be many reasons for us lacking to reach out. Huge ones are time, gas, money, some people are shy... But here's the question: If the only thing that matters [and, this is the only thing that matters] is loving God, loving His people, showing them the way, making disciples who make disciples, glorifying, serving, and trusting God... then what is time, fuel, money, shyness? It's God's. Everything is His and for His glory. He is the Author of time. He is the Creator of fuel. He is the one who provides us with money, He is the one who empowers us to go out of our shell and reach out!
Don't get me wrong, I see people reaching out. But the amount who are doing it compared to the amount who aren't is absolutely astonishing. We need more Believers reaching out. We have generations here who are faced with temptations, who are crying out for help, who are crying out for freedom from addictions.... And most of them will never come to us. We have to go to them sometimes.
We have to pray for a love for them, for opportunities with them. We have to remember it isn't our job to trust them or know everything about their life, but to love them. I've struggled serving in jr high ministry because so often they seem like they don't care/like me and other junior high leaders and God just told me, "Emily, it isn't your job to worry about if they love you, it's your job to love them."
I think the most important thing I've learned is not just to talk to them or at them, but to be their friend. To hang out with them, to do what they want to do and let God open the doors. Don't forget that your example often speaks louder witness than anything.
So my challenge then is this: Will you reach out? Will you be a following of Christ who is passionately and whole heartedly committed to caring and investing in the lives of those who most need Jesus Christ?
