If you are willing to engage in all that it takes to become a diligent disciple, intense intimacy with Christ will be your reward, regardless of how challenging it is to live that life. You can expect one victory after another, as you overcome every weakness of your past sinful nature. And each day you endeavor to live a life of purity, you will become more like Christ. Then you are called to take the things which you have learned and practiced, as witnessed by others, and commit them to those who desire to be the next generation of faithful disciples, diligent and willing to also pass on what they’ve learned from you to the next generation. And that generation should pass it to the next, and so on! Imagine it as a multilevel discipleship copy center that duplicates diligent disciples — a sort of discipleship factory.
It’s a difficult topic for certain, so let us pray in the immortal words of the Apostle Paul, “Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.” And if we borrow the same imagery that Paul used to help us comprehend the various character qualities of diligent disciples, we can even better understand the stages of development and the process. Let us begin by first agreeing that the process will not be easy; difficulties certainly await! Then, to encapsulate his creative ideas, let’s unwrap Paul’s three object lessons; he taught us to recruit soldiers, train athletes, and incentivize farmers.
Good soldiers are recruited to leave their non-commissioned lives behind, to faithfully shift their thoughts away from the affairs of civilian life, and to instead focus all their attention on impressing their commanding officers with the utmost integrity. Elite athletes marshal all of their resources on training and strategies for improvement; they are determined to advance and compete with excellence and to consistently win at the highest level possible. Productive farmers study and work the soil tirelessly to increase its fertility and to make it most hospitable to the seed they plant. They are innovative, patient, and appreciate that everything has a proper timing and season. They sow seeds with utter anticipation of reaping an abundant harvest, a harvest in which they fully expect to participate. And they expect such, season after season, because sustainability too is a consistent practice of the productive farmer.
The imagery in Paul’s object lessons is brilliant: to make disciples we must recruit soldiers, train athletes, and incentivize farmers. Each has its own great attributes, but they also share many common strengths that ought to receive mention for their use on our discipleship factory assembly line: a willingness to follow leaders and lead followers; recognition of the value of mentorship and teamwork; a strong work ethic which translates into doing hard things and the ability to work effectively under pressure. All three require mental fortitude, grit, resilience, and adaptability. Each must demonstrate commitment, dedication and discipline. As things oftentimes don’t go as expected, perseverance is required to overcome challenges and to remain composed under pressure. All must possess a deep desire to be experts at their craft and a willingness to be perpetual students. And to round off these impeccable characteristics is the need for a strong proper functioning physical body.
Peter acknowledged Paul’s greater wisdom in how he elaborated on what Peter himself taught, albeit Paul on a much deeper level and with more difficulty to understand. And Paul was sensitive to the depth of his own teachings, hence again his prayer, “Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.” Understand what it means to recruit, train, and incentivize Christians, if your hope is to commit these things to faithful disciples who will also be able to teach the next generation.
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