Today’s Devotional Theme
A Plea For Disciples
Daily Scripture
John 17:8, 18
“For I have given them [the disciples] the words that you gave Me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from You; and they have believed that You sent Me… As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
Encouragement
I believe the expansion of God’s kingdom depends largely on two things. One is that we convince our children that God and His sent Son are undeniably real. The other involves recruiting disciples who will in turn make more disciples. The kingdom cries for disciples who impart their teaching and discipline to the next spiritual generation and at the same time draw in new believers from the world. But back to our kids for a moment. Many of them will go to secular colleges where they’ll be bombarded with opinions and teaching that both subtly imply and outwardly insist that God is a figment of a deluded church’s imagination – that God is no more than a crutch to give people some artificial comfort in an increasingly twisted world. Now about making disciples: Victory Christian Center’s mission is all about making disciples, even though the word “disciple” doesn’t appear in the mission statement.
Take Action!
Our mission is to engage nonbelievers; establish them as new believers through salvation and baptism; equip them for the work of the kingdom by way of sound teaching and not just saying swelling words about God butliving before them a life centered on God; and finally, expand the kingdom through personal growth, evangelism, and helping plant new seeds that will grow into healthy churches. Jesus’ work keyed on this mission. After He ascended into heaven, His followers established a dynamic and thriving new church that carried forth His mission to the next spiritual generation. That’s the heart of making disciples. Chapter 17 of John is Jesus’ extended prayer to His Father. One can see in it a three-fold petition. First, in verses 1-5 Jesus prays for His own glorification. Then His prayer reaches into the lives and protection of those into whom He poured His life (verses 6-19). Finally in verses 20-26 Jesus prays for all believers to follow, including you and me!
Come into His Presence
Lord God, I understand the importance of making disciples. I want to go beyond merely understanding and actually make disciples. I know with Your help and encouragement I can do it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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