“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 NLT).
In the Bible, we learn about a character named Esther. God had given her influence and favor with the king in order to save the Jewish people from being exterminated. She never forgot why God had given her influence. The Word tells us that she had to hide her identity as a Jew because Jews were not accepted in Persia; yet she still risked her life, position and reputation to save her people. During our walk with God, sometimes we forget the reason as to why God gave us influence. We need to remember that we are on earth to accomplish a heavenly purpose destined for this specific time, and a purpose that only we can achieve. Today we will learn about a responsible discipleship that is durable, and about the qualities we need to have in our own lives.
1. The character of Christ
“Our faith reflects our character.” Character shouldn’t be confused with temperaments. Temperaments are inherited by our parents, but the character of Christ is formed in us. Character is shown in the way we react while being under pressure or when you’re facing a difficult situation. It is necessary that our character be tested, because this is the only way it can be refined and at the end be more like Christ.
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV).
2. Faith, love and prayer.
Faith is the anchor that keeps us firm, that helps us fulfill our mission, and that helps us become successful people. Love is revealed when we see people as God sees them. It is to see our children and family whom are not saved as if they were. It is to understand the truth that surpasses the reality we see in the natural. Prayer must be a priority in our lives and our church, because that is where we give birth to many answers, and it is on our knees that we win the greatest battles. Prayer is the foundation that sustains and activates the church; it is what brings God’s sudden intervention in all situations.
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:16-17 NIV).
3. The renewing of our mind.
We cannot be renewed in the human mind, but we can be renewed in the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is formed in a person when they receive “faith” through their spirit, and not their reasoning. Man reasons that it’s a process to receive the character of Christ, when God expects us to make up our minds to act and think like Christ today!
Think about it:
Why is it important to have these qualities?
Which of these requirements do you need to improve today in order to be a disciple?
