We all have different callings in our lives. We have different talents, passions and interests. The plan for each of our lives are probably far from identical. With all of these differences one might think it impossible to find common ground with everyone around them, but there is something that we all share. There is a calling, perhaps one of the most important callings, that we have in common. It is the call to go and make disciples.
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus says, "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." Notice that He says "all nations" that includes the nation that you are in. It is so great that there are faithful and obedient people who follow their call to do missions over seas to unreached parts of the world, but if you haven't felt that call don't be discouraged. Know that you can disciple and be discipled right where you are in your own home, in your church and in your city.
Discipleship can look different for everybody and you have probably been discipled without anyone looking at you and saying, "Hey, I'm discipling you!" Think of the people who poured into you throughout your life. The ones who taught you what's right and what's wrong.
The ones that were there for you in the rough times and guided you to see the light in the darkness. The ones who have prayed with you and spoke truth over you. The ones who helped you dig into God's word. The people who invested in you and the person that you will become. These people could be your parents or your old youth pastor or a good, faithful friend. There is no step-by-step manual to discipling so look back at how you have been discipled and see where you can do that for others in your life.
In order to disciple others, you have to also want to be discipled yourself. There is no capping point, there is no time when you will become the perfect disciple who has learned everything. There is always room to grow. You can't pour from an empty cup. You have to continually be poured into so that you can pour out into other people and they can pour into other people and the cycle continues. We want to be disciple-makers who make disciple-makers who make disciple-makers.
Like I mentioned earlier, discipling can happen without you realizing but you can also be intentional with it. If you are struggling in your prayer life and you know someone that rocks the prayer world go up to them, be bold, and ask them to invest in you and disciple you in that part of your life.
If you are struggling with leadership and you see someone who leads fearlessly and faithfully, have the courage to ask them to teach you how to be a better leader. If you are struggling with serving and know someone who lives to serve and not be served, be brave and ask them how you can serve and where you can serve. Be intentional, be bold, be courageous, be brave, be discipled.
Being discipled is important, but don't forget the part where you disciple others! It can seem scary and you might feel like you are not qualified enough or spiritual enough or have not lived long enough to be a disciple-maker. Remember Matthew 28:19? Jesus says go. Go and make disciples. He doesn't say wait until you have gone to bible school or wait until you've read the entire bible five times or wait until you're in your 50's. He simply says go.
