Nurturing Relationships
Devotional
READ: Colossians 1:28
In our verse today, Paul explains the essence of discipleship well. He says we are to proclaim (share, preach) Christ, admonishing (warning, holding to account), and teaching (instructing, coaching, training) every person with wisdom (understanding, insight) so that we may present every person complete (perfect) in Christ.
The verb admonishing and teaching in the passage are in continuous form, which means they continue to happen over time. They aren't a "one and done" sort of action. Proclaiming, admonishing, and teaching are things we are to continue doing until we come to the point in history when we will all be acknowledged as complete because we knew Christ.
Looking back over the last four decades of my life as a Christian, discipleship has been a large part of it. Sometimes, I have been the student--the one being discipled--, and other times, I have discipled others or been the teacher. I've participated in all sorts of ministries and roles. Still, the ones that have had the most impact on me and others are the ones that have involved a significant amount of commitment and time. Through these experiences, I've understood a few things about discipleship and what it isn't.
It's not just an 8-week Bible study or seminary class, and it can't happen overnight; it's more personal and takes longer than that. It can't happen by accident; it must be intentional and purposeful. It's not a list of dos and don'ts but a process of living by example and serving Christ and one another. It's not just hanging out with another believer. It's recognizing and revising our human nature to look more like Christ's nature and helping others to do the same.
It can be structured and formal or more spontaneous and organic, but it's essentially doing life with others. It's being vulnerable and honest in our struggles and victories. It's being there for one another, encouraging, supporting, and pointing the way to Christ when it is unclear.
The Bible has many examples of these kinds of relationships. In the Old Testament, Jethro mentored his son-in-law Moses and Eli's discipled Samuel, who appointed and discipled King David. In the New Testament, Jesus discipled twelve men who established the Christian church and changed the course of history. Paul, who mentored Timothy, encouraged him to entrust the things he had heard from Paul to "faithful people who will be able to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2).
Make no mistake, ongoing personal relationships with others, like the biblical examples above, can be difficult, time-consuming, disruptive, messy, and draining. But they are the ultimate call and work of the Kingdom of God, and the rewards are eternal.
In our verse today, Paul explains the essence of discipleship well. He says we are to proclaim (share, preach) Christ, admonishing (warning, holding to account), and teaching (instructing, coaching, training) every person with wisdom (understanding, insight) so that we may present every person complete (perfect) in Christ.
The verb admonishing and teaching in the passage are in continuous form, which means they continue to happen over time. They aren't a "one and done" sort of action. Proclaiming, admonishing, and teaching are things we are to continue doing until we come to the point in history when we will all be acknowledged as complete because we knew Christ.
Looking back over the last four decades of my life as a Christian, discipleship has been a large part of it. Sometimes, I have been the student--the one being discipled--, and other times, I have discipled others or been the teacher. I've participated in all sorts of ministries and roles. Still, the ones that have had the most impact on me and others are the ones that have involved a significant amount of commitment and time. Through these experiences, I've understood a few things about discipleship and what it isn't.
It's not just an 8-week Bible study or seminary class, and it can't happen overnight; it's more personal and takes longer than that. It can't happen by accident; it must be intentional and purposeful. It's not a list of dos and don'ts but a process of living by example and serving Christ and one another. It's not just hanging out with another believer. It's recognizing and revising our human nature to look more like Christ's nature and helping others to do the same.
It can be structured and formal or more spontaneous and organic, but it's essentially doing life with others. It's being vulnerable and honest in our struggles and victories. It's being there for one another, encouraging, supporting, and pointing the way to Christ when it is unclear.
The Bible has many examples of these kinds of relationships. In the Old Testament, Jethro mentored his son-in-law Moses and Eli's discipled Samuel, who appointed and discipled King David. In the New Testament, Jesus discipled twelve men who established the Christian church and changed the course of history. Paul, who mentored Timothy, encouraged him to entrust the things he had heard from Paul to "faithful people who will be able to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2).
Make no mistake, ongoing personal relationships with others, like the biblical examples above, can be difficult, time-consuming, disruptive, messy, and draining. But they are the ultimate call and work of the Kingdom of God, and the rewards are eternal.
Personal Reflection
Have you been in a personal, ongoing relationship with another believer since you became a follower of Christ? How did that impact you? How did it affect the other person?
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