Christ’s Followers Making Disciples - How to Live as a Disciple of Christ

“Therefore go and make disciples of all 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.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2, NIV)

When I graduated high school, I was seeking what the purpose of my life was and how to live it out. In a profoundly moving encounter, I realized God calls us to His plan, which is pleasing and perfect. I then realized for His will to be done in my life, I had to let go of me and all my dreams. I had to dethrone myself and enthrone Him in total surrender. It was that day when I made a covenant with God, asking him to own my life and use it however and wherever for His glory. I vowed my life to him where Christ would live through me. I have seen His faithfulness over the last 40 years. It has been fulfilling seeing the exchange of what is temporal for what is eternal. And truly, it’s been worth every cost.

When I said yes to the call and kingdom assignment, I became a disciple. God sent me to serve and make disciples so others can serve Him as well. Today, Life in Abundance has more than 150 people serving on staff, who are also called to implement the Jesus model of missions to the poor. Additionally, we have discipled local churches and leaders to serve the poor and the vulnerable as He has taught us.

When the prophet Elijah was taken up and Elisha took the cloak that had fallen from him, Elijah’s calling and God’s power were passed to Elisha. He struck the waters of the Jordan River with this cloak, calling on the manifestation of the power of God. The waters divided and he crossed on dry ground. The prophets from Jericho witnessed this and confirmed the same Spirit of God, who had rested on Elijah, now rested on Elisha. They then submitted themselves to his leadership.

When Moses and his brother Aaron went to the Pharaoh of Egypt, representing the God of Israel, they performed a miracle that turned Aaron’s staff into a snake and the magicians of the pharaoh were summoned. Using their spells, they did the same with their staffs, but Aaron’s staff swallowed the staffs of the magicians. This was because the kingdom of this world is ruled by the Kingdom of God and the spirit of this world.

When John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus to find out if he was really the Christ, Jesus told John’s disciples to go back to him and report what they had heard and seen. The blind were receiving sight, the lame were walking, those who had leprosy were being cleansed, the deaf were hearing, the dead were raised, and the good news was being proclaimed to the poor. This manifestation of the kingdom was the testimony of His identity and the identity that He gives His followers.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians stating, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). It is by love that men know we are His disciples, for God is love and where he is, love is.

Reflection: When the story is told about your life and who you discipled by word or deed, will it be one of added value? How will others say you loved others?