Building up believers and the New Testament church

Discipleship

Example

The subject that we are addressing is not head knowledge which may be learned in a classroom, but life relationship with God. The first requirement in this kind of training is that of example. We must be able to say "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern" (Philippians 3:17). The apostle Paul did not hesitate to say this. He boldly referred to his example among believers as a reason for listening to what he had to say to them (I Thessalonians 1:5, 2:1-12). If we are going to make disciples, then we must also be able to say with Christ, "It is enough that a disciple be as his master." What is the beginning place in our lives which gives authority to our teaching? Is it not that we are living what we are saying? If we are not living what we are trying to teach, can we think that anybody will take us seriously? Others may listen politely, at least for a while, but will they act on our words of instruction?

Those of us who teach, speaking "as an oracle of God" (I Peter 4:11), must be ruthlessly honest at this point. Have we allowed the Holy Spirit to plumb the depths of our hearts and show us ourselves? Does our life speak, even if we never say a word? Can men look at our lives and see a "disciple"? This is not the conclusion by any means, for we do not just copy one another. But this is the foundation in the life of a teacher--one who is interested in making disciples. We must be disciples, to make disciples, and there is no detour around this requirement. If we expect others to forsake the world, we must have forsaken the world. If we expect others to be diligent, we must be diligent. If we expect others to be on time, we must be on time. We must set the example, and if we do nothing more than set an example, we will have done a great deal.

Setting an example is something that every one of us can do. Teachers should be foremost, but the power of many disciples setting an example cannot be overstated. Others watch us all the time. The world watches to see if there is any reality in our lives. We watch each other all the time. Are we as exacting with ourselves as we are with our brothers and sisters? We should be much more demanding of ourselves than of others. Remember, we can only obey for ourselves.

Next: Involvement