I can remember telling the man who discipled me how excited I was to share the gospel with someone for the first time. He rejoiced with me that God had used me in that way. He then told me about another kind of joy – when those with whom you have shared the gospel share it with someone else. I experienced that joy recently when I received the same call that I made many years ago.
A man whom I have been investing in called me to share the joy he had experienced in sharing the gospel with a friend. He was so excited that I imagined needing a spatula to scrape him off the ceiling! What was so humbling to me is that he gave all the glory to God. His greatest joy was that God would use him in that way, and that the man’s response to the gospel didn’t rest on his speaking abilities. My friend’s phone call assured me that he had really understood the gospel because he understood that people will never be saved unless someone tells them about the work of Christ (Rom 10:14-15); the gospel is the power of God to salvation and doesn’t need to be propped-up (Rom 1:16); it’s our proclamation that’s necessary, not our capabilities (Acts 13:48; 1 Thes 2:13); and God doesn’t use people who have it all together to win others to the Savior (2 Cor 4:7).
Discipleship is a process. It requires that we walk along side of folks for a while. We teach them the Bible, help them develop their theology, answer their tough questions, and show them how to apply it to all of life. We live in a microwave culture where everything needs to happen in a minute or less. If we’re to have more of these joyful conversations with people we invest in, then we have to keep the long view in mind. The Great Commission is all about making disciples and not believers. Teaching them all that Jesus has commanded of them takes time (Matt 28:18), and can only happen as we intentionally attach ourselves to young believers and share our lives with them.
My prayer is that God would bring someone your way that needs your knowledge and experience in Christ. As you invest yourself in their life, you will say with Paul, “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thes 2:19-20)
Your brother,
Hirsch