Discipling means making disciples of those around us. This means spurring them on to greater works and a deeper relationship with God (Hebrews 10:24). Discipling can be done through two main avenues. Firstly, a Paul-Timothy relationship wherein a mentor disciples a mentee. These are beneficial for personal growth and accountability. The second way is to have a small group of individuals who all disciple each other. As iron sharpens iron, they encourage and empower each other to a fuller understanding of a Christ-filled life (Proverbs 27:17). Either way is awesome and we must understand that as a Christian, it is the responsibility of each one of us to both learn from each other and to build each other up (Matthew 28:19-20). This is how Jesus lived as he grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).
Reflection Questions
Q: Discipline and disciple come from the same root. What sort of reaction do you have to the word discipline?
A: Well, this:
5And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:5-11
When I endure hardships, I remember James 1:2-4 where it says to consider it "pure joy" when bad things happen because they produce perseverance and spiritual maturity. I want to grow as a Christian and as a person as Jesus did; and that means that I'll have to face trials. Life isn't easy, but as Luke 1:37 and Philippians 4:13 tell us: with God, I can do this.
Q: How are you intentionally partnering with God to become who he intended you to be?
A: This was a stinging question. I read it several times and almost didn't choose to answer it and instead answer an easier one; but it's an important question. What am I doing to become who God wants me to be? I do go pray in the chapel sometimes, I go to church, listen to Christian music, etc.; but I'll have to admit that I'm not doing so great at this one. I could give a million excuses for this, but at the end of the day, if God isn't my number one priority then what is? I try to read my Bible, but I find it hard to find time alone to myself, and when I do I don't really want to read. I shouldn't get too down on myself, because I know that God is working on me. Everything I do seems to bring me closer to him and I think that my love for him is evident to those around me, but how much personal time do I intentionally carve out to spend time alone with God? The answer, if I could be transparent for a moment, is that it is not enough. Every night, I go to bed thinking that I should have done more. I do know that I am where God wants me to be, but if you're reading this, I ask that you'd pray for me that I could find/make the time to read my Bible, pray, and otherwise spend time with God. This is something that I've been convicted of as of late, and I pray every night that God will have his way in my life. So, I'm going to work on this, but the answer to the question at this moment is: not enough.
