Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Timothy 2:15, Titus 2:3-5, Psalm 78:4-7

Jeff Cutts encourages us to press on in our personal discipleship and in our mentoring of others

Jeff Cutts

'Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."' Matthew 28:18-20

Many years ago in Bible College, a friend and I decided that to help our financial situation we would start a window cleaning business. Two buckets, two squeegees and one ladder later we hit the street and started asking people if they wanted their windows cleaned. Cleaning windows is a skill and we were not too good to start with; I remember one lady was very angry with us only the second time we visited her house, because the first time we left her windows with various smears and wipe marks. There was no way she was going to have us back! There was another however, who smiled and nodded and paid us our couple of pounds each time we went back to clean her windows and we became quite chatty with her; after a while when we asked her about her windows and talked about her neighbour's re-action we asked if we really were that bad when we started out, "Oh yes", she replied, "But I knew you'd get better".

Jesus calls us to both be and to make disciples. All of us at some time will find ourselves in a position to learn and grow as a disciple of Jesus and at other times to be one who passes on what we have learned. We will make mistakes and sometimes 'smear the windows'; I think it's important to know that whilst we and others will make mistakes there is always the opportunity to give up on a 'bad job' or to press on and allow ourselves and others to grow and improve.

Here are a few verses from the Bible that might help direct us to persevere.

'Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' 2 Timothy 2:15

This is a verse for us as growing disciples. It calls us to study; other versions say, 'to work hard' or 'make every effort to give yourself to God'. Can you see here that effort expended on our part to know Jesus and to grow in our relationship with Him will make us stronger and more effective disciples? What you feed will grow. If you make it your goal to know more of Jesus Christ, to understand His teaching, to develop spiritual gifts through prayer and to submit yourself to God and actively look for His will in your life then you will grow as a disciple of Jesus. You will make mistakes, but don't give up on your study and effort and the verse says you will not be ashamed.

Here's another angle:

'Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honours God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.' Titus 2:3-5

These verses talk about teaching others to be disciples and the lesson and principle applies to young men too. Those who are older should teach and train those who are younger in the faith. What you feed will grow and where you feed into the faith and spiritual growth of others you will see them grow.

My best experiences of this two way growth have not always included a formal Bible study. They have been when I have spent time with people sharing life; a late night curry after the evening service, a long car drive, working together on the garden etc. They have also been times when I have been given opportunity and responsibility and where an ongoing relationship has helped me understand and work through both the resulting successes and failures. They are the times when even though I may have started out bad someone has said, 'but I knew you'd get better'.

We have a great commission. For the glory of God let us make every effort to be mature disciples of Jesus and to make growing disciples of Jesus. Don't be disheartened or give up at the smears on the windows, we and they will grow and get better. See the glorious deeds of the Lord in your own life and others; share your life and 'each generation will set its hope anew on God'.

'We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
so the next generation might know them-
even the children not yet born-
and they in turn will teach their own children.
So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.'
Psalm 78:4-7