Discipleship

And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. [Luke 12.42-44]

I currently lead a small group of guys for the express purpose of discipleship. We started off as a Bible study of sorts, but recently shifted into a focus upon discipleship. What I write here today is primarily for them...

We have ALL been given the responsibility of managing (leading) others. What we lead others to do is to lead others! It is a brilliant and effective plan that Jesus initiated, this "discipleship."

Jesus' example with His twelve men showed us that discipleship is effective and relatively easy. Jesus was a man of God's Word, prayer and worship. Jesus practiced what He preached and simply recruited others to do the same with a distinct sense of responsibility.

What Jesus gave, as a disciple-maker, was not His own. He simply gave of what the Father gave Him.

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. [John 5.19]

Yes, this included the miracles but also everything Jesus did. Jesus was very clear: the Son can do nothing by himself.

In following Jesus' model, we are simply to follow God's Word and His lead and teach others to do the same. 

Not ironically, what Jesus said in Luke 12.42-44 followed a discussion about time being short:

You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” [Luke 12.40]

And, also included in this context is a very sober warning:

“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. [Luke 12.47]

But this warning is also contrasted by the promise found in Luke 12.42-44: If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

There is a great reward for discipleship!

Father, help us to stay focused on discipleship!