Invite. Invest. Involve.

Daily Reading:  2 Timothy 2

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)

Devotional Thought: As part of Jesus’ last instructions to the disciples, he gave them The Great Commission, telling them to go and make disciples of all nations.  And while Jesus hadn’t given them a method per se, he had shown them: he had stayed with the disciples night and day for nearly three years; he had entrusted to them the biblical truths and power of the Spirit; he had shown them by his example; and he had instructed them to go do what they had seen him do.

As I think about Jesus’ method and the method that Paul here instructed Timothy to use, I see three succinct instructions to making disciples: invite, invest, involve.

• In order to accomplish the Great Commission, we need to invite others to join us.  That means we choose them – we need to proactively seek out people we can entrust with the gospel.  That is both a spiritual and practical exercise that is defined by each individual relationship.

• But, the invitation must be followed by an investment.  We need to spend time with people, pray for people, teach people, and yes, even invest in them with our resources.  In the words of Paul, we need to entrust them with this treasure.

• Then, of course, we need to involve them in ministry.  A discipleship plan that does not assign, delegate, and supervise is a recipe for failure.  The ones we have chosen and trained must then train others.

Invite.  Invest.  Involve.  Who are you discipling?

Prayer: Lord, someone took the time and made the effort to make me into a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Help me to do so as well - as I invite others to join me, as I invest in their lives, and as I involve them in the work of God.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 119:33-40

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

38 Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.

39 Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.

40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!