MAKING DISCIPLES FOR CHRIST

_"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”(I Corinthians 13: 13)_

It is necessary that the older and mature saints of God, disciple and mentor young Chistians to walk in the ways of our Lord Jesus.  In disciplining people, what are the primary values we should seek to build in their lives?  Is it to help them develop a strong prayer life, or a disciplined pattern of Scripture memory?  Or to be faithful witness to the lost?  Very possibly, but more important than all these is to help them form deep convictions in three fundamental areas: faith, hope and love. (I Corinthians 13: 13)  First, hope.  Hebrews 11: 6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”  We need to encourage a young Christian to demonstrate his faith in God by willingness to even go into the fiery furnace, as did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  Second, hope.  Hebrews 11: 13-16 says, “All these people ... did not receive the things promised;  they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth...they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one.”  We need to exhort the person to have a “pilgrim mentality”.  His life should demonstrate the fact that he understands the transitory nature of our earthly existence and the importance of investing in the eternal.  Third, love.  In II Corinthians 5: 14,15 Paul says, “Christ’s love compels us, ... that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.”  A disciple’s life should be so impacted by Christ’s love that he is compelled to live a life of loving service rather than gratifying his selfish desires.

Dear friends, it is not just enough to advise others, but the best way we build these qualities into the life of another person is by modeling them first in our own lives.  So let us live as Jesus lived and influence the young disciples for the Lord.

*PRAYER* :  Dear Lord,  let me not just teach a young Christian seeking to become Your disciple to walk in faith, love and hope, but let me live as a role model before him.  Let me imitate You in my words and deeds, and let this  motivate him to live a witnessing life.  Amen.