From childhood to adulthood there have been godly, mature Christians along the way who influenced me towards godliness. These are brothers and sisters-in-Christ who took the Great Commission seriously. Not only did they steer me towards salvation but also engaged the second part of that commission 'to make disciples' (see Matthew 28:19-20).
This biblical mandate takes ongoing effort and commitment to help 'grow' another believer to maturity. At various times and seasons there will be others who 'take over'. For example, Timothy's mother and grandmother greatly influenced and taught him faith and God's word. Later, the apostle Paul 'took over'.
In 1 Thessalonians 2 we see Paul discipling a whole congregation of believers through a letter since it was too dangerous for him to be with them in person. He didn't leave them shepherdless. He was able to send Timothy, whom he'd discipled and trained up, to them to encourage and guide them.
Did Paul do this for fame and glory? No. His motivation was to declare the gospel of God in the midst of conflict. There was persecution going on there. It was no doubt a scary time. The Thessalonians needed the encouragement and guidance to navigate their Christian lives through their "valley of the shadow of death".
As I wrote that I remembered that someone close to me told of the believers he knows of and has had a hand in discipling. They live in Goma, D. R. Congo. The M23 terror group has been raking and raking through the area terrorizing. They've taken over Goma.
This created havoc and people were looting stores and shops and warehouses to get food. The Christians did not participate in thievery. Now the Christians don't have enough food. On top of that, young Christian teenagers and men have to go into hiding. They are susceptible to being kidnapped at any time of day or night. Yes, the M23 will even break into homes and hospitals in the middle of the night to snatch such young men, forcing them to become a member of their violent gang.
Out of a hundred or more believers in the church, less than ten showed up for Sunday service, for safety's sake. This is what these Christians are currently enduring. Scary?
Of course! Sounds terrifying! And what the believers in Thessalonica experienced was scary too. The desparation. The hunger, perhaps. The constant threat of alarm and harm were ever present. In addition to discipling there needed to be encouragement through this gale force storm.
Paul could do so because he himself endured much. For safety's sake he had had to flee the city. Why would he continue? Well, another of his motivations was to please God and not man (see vs 1-6).
In vs 4 we see God tests the heart. Is it true to pleasing God even in the crucible? We each will need to face up to this question at some point in our life. Paul used his own example to disciple the Thessalonians through theirs.
Paul, Timothy and Silas were all out - wholehearted. My own motivation for giving myself to other people has been rather tepid by comparison. I have only had a vague idea to please God in discipling others to learn of Jesus and His way. I haven't seriously thought of what my motivation was, to begin with. It's been more of a duty to pass on from one generation to the next. I have liked to please men under the guise of pleasing God. This needs to change!
God's Word through Paul guides and disciples still. Paul's similes were that he did so "like a nursing mother" and "like a father". A mother's tender care to nuture, feed and clothe, while a father's guidance gave right direction through exhortation, encouragement and transforming grace to walk in a manner worthy of God.
From right motivation to the 'how to' of discipling, Paul's example is so helpful. Stop and consider it. Let's make it our practice too. Having greater understanding of this role will bring about a more holistic mode of discipling with greater integrity bringing praise and glory to God.
So Paul had right motivation and method. He also had a goal in nurturing the Thessalonians towards maturity in Chrsit. He wanted them to "walk in a manner worthy of God," "to increase and abound in love for one another" and to "establish their hearts, to be blameless before God and Father at the coming of Christ." Lofty goals (see 1 Thessalonians 2:12 and 3:12-13).
All of this came at a cost for Paul. He suffered and was shamefully treated. He worked around the clock to earn his own room and board while still teaching and preaching and discipling. He was hindered by Satan from further speaking in Thessalonica and was driven out of the area.
If we engage in active discipling, I believe we will surely pay the price too but as we invest in the lives of others know too the cost of God's grace when He sent His one and only Son to earth to earn our salvation. I've heard believers call this 'costly grace' and it is not to be taken for granted. If someone is discipling you, be sure to be thankful. Give God praise that you can be found using your 'talents' for Him in His service.
Despite the tiredness and suffering Paul must have endured, there were happy results for all his hard work. The people ...
"accepted God's Word as the Word of God and NOT of man; they became imitatiors of the Judean churches of God in Christ Jesus" and "even suffered for their faith" (see vs 13-16).
When we see our 'children' walking with the Lord it gives us pleasure and thankfulness to the Lord. Paul's hope, joy, and crown were found in these Thessalonian believers. They were his treasure he stored up in heaven and when Jesus returns, I believe Paul will hear Jesus say, "well done, good and faithful servant".
May each of us brothers and sisters-in-Christ be encouraged by Paul's example. Invest in other Christians' lives, not as busybodies but as a discipler. All the 'hard labor' and suffering we may encounter will be worth it when we see those disciples grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and come to maturity in Him.
Getting back to those who influenced me to live well for Christ were those who taught me to love Jesus, to be interested in reading the Bible, to have compassion and greater empathy for others, who helped build up my most holy faith and to have integrity in faith. That is, to walk the talk to be true, not hide the truth and to remove falseness.
Besides my parents, there were Sunday School teachers, a man of faith and compassion, another brother who taught a group of us as adults, and a sister-in-Christ friend. I thank God for all of these who were willing to 'work hard in the Lord' not just for me but for countless others. They did it all to please the Lord.
~ ERC March 2025 ~
Based on 1 Thessalonians 2, and Bible Study Guide - Chrisitan Disciplines, Life Builder - Christian Character - Chapter 12 - Discipling.
Sing, Bringing In the Sheaves, along with The Mansion Singers.
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