"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they do not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."
Romans 10:1-4
I have been reading through Romans and this it really hit me! So many times do missionaries go out and share the Word of God and "win over a bunch of people for Christ", but then they leave and that individual is left to navigate through this world without much explanation of what that looks like. You see so many countries that have a high concentration of missionaries that pour into each year and yet they are still suffocated by poverty and corruption. For example, Kenya, it is the number one place for western missionaries to go into for a short term mission and yet their nation is not much better off. Violence, drugs, prostitution, illiteracy, poverty, and disease still run rampant through the country. And it is not for lack of being spreading the Word of God, but from people actually teaching it. As Christians I think we need to realize that getting people to say a prayer and confess the name of Jesus is NOT the end goal: it is just the beginning! We were called to go into all of the earth and make disciples (Matthew 28: 16-20) MAKE DISCIPLES - meaning teach them! Walk with them, take them under our wing, instruct them, love on them, and be examples for them.
This exciting revelation reminded me of Loren Cunningham, the founder of YWAM. That was part of his vision for this organization was to disciple young people so that they can go out and do the same in the rest of the world. Yes, I know that my DTS is a short term missions trip, but it is a discipleship training school and the outreach portion is to put what I have learned to use! It is designed to teach me and give me the tools to be secure in my identity with Christ. And I must agree with Loren, it is an amazing vision!
Loren made a great point in one of his books, "The Book That Transforms the Nations", that nations can change when the Word of God is put into play in the different spheres of society. All of that seems incredible and I know I told God many times that if He needed someone to change an entire nation to "pick me, pick me!!!" but afterwards panicking a little at the overwhelming size of that task. Loren addressed this by reminding the readers that Jesus healed thousands and spoke to sooooo many, but the time he spent most was with his 12 disciples. Those disciples He taught, lived with, and SHOWED them how to live as a child of God. It does not have to be this overwhelming task of trying to convert millions, but what if every christian spent their life discipling just 12 other people? What would our world look like if everyone who had been walking with the Lord; started walking alongside another young christian and helped them? Our nations would be different! Our churches would be stronger! And our families would be less broken!
So I encourage and challenge whoever is reading this to think about your 12. Twelve people at least in your life that you can disciple and walk-alongside. I am so excited at this point at this idea! God is so good and His Word never ceases to come alive!
Reading this passage this morning was a perfect reminder for when I leave for India tonight. That my goal is not to get people to repeat after me and claim the name of Jesus. My goal is to make His name known through my love for Him and others. I will only be in India for a short 6 weeks - I can uplift my fellow brothers and sisters and I can show love to a nation who rarely receives any. Here we go Jesus - its all You!!!
***I may possibly blog over my time in India, but if that is not an option then I certainly will when I get back to Australia!
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