What does it take to be a disciple maker for God? Well if you hadn’t noticed already, we are all in training and preparing to almost go to battle for making disciples. These verses in 1 Peter are a good picture of some of the things we should be doing as disciple makers. Imagine if we didn’t have hospitality, then what would we be? A good picture that comes to mind is a couch potato. Someone who is very lazy, watches tv all day, and never moves an inch from their seat. But it goes even further than that because even couch potatoes have love. Love for what they are watching. I like how Peter starts off with “love each other deeply”. However, this is not so much our love as human beings because that fades and wavers. Instead, it is God’s love; an unconditional love that exceeds all understanding. A love so great that He even sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us. So yes, we need to have this love all the time and next of course we need to have hospitality. But the next part is important, “without grumbling”. I find that there are many people who can open their homes to you and may even invite you over, but that doesn’t mean it was because they wanted to. It’s like you throw a party and you invite all your friends, but there is this one friend who is not really a friend. You and everyone else know that person smells a little funny, so you’d rather not invite him, but out of courtesy you do. Going back to the point we need to make sure that we are cautious, but open with hospitality and love. Lastly, verses 10 and 11 talks about the gifts that God has given to us. Have you ever noticed that there are some things you are just naturally good at and it is something you haven’t ever trained for? Well that is most likely a gift from God! Now everyone has their gift or maybe its multiple, so as a result we as disciple makers need to make sure that we are using these gifts to glorify God and through that we can make more disciples for Him. So maybe it’s a sport, maybe it’s public speaking, whatever it is, let’s make sure we are using that to become great disciple makers.
Have you ever felt like you were worthless or you really wanted to help out with something but just couldn’t? I know I have felt like this many times but I feel as though every human being suffers from this. Maybe they tell themselves they will never be enough or they will never be able to accomplish their goals. The sad truth is that in all honesty, we are not enough and we can’t accomplish our goals on our own. We need help to do that. We might go to friends, family, mentors, but even with all that, it still won’t be enough. The only person that can complete our search, complete our heart, and connect all the pieces in our mind is God. There is no other alternative and no other thing that will or will ever come close. In these verses, it tells us that God has already given us everything that we need to be successful through Him and that would be the Bible, which holds the answers to all your questions. It then goes into detail about all the things you need to work on or add to your life and that is: faith goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. Then verse 8 says, “for if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”. So the main answer is simple; we need God for everything that we do, but on the secondary, we need to improve on these qualities as well. So with the start of the new year, I feel that this should be the focus and with it continue our walk with Go and grow in Him.
Imagine yourself as a cell in a body. These cells all perform different functions and range in different sizes and shapes. However, even though they are all different, the overall job function has one goal and that is to assist and help the human body. As Christians, we should be the same way and like-minded. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that we do the same exact things. For example, if everyone were to be a pastor it wouldn’t be very logical and ideal because then who would do all the other jobs in the world? As a result, our like-mindedness should have one main goal and that is to glorify God and serve Him. So I guess that would be two goals. Whether you’re a window washer, a doctor, or possibly a businessman or businesswoman, whatever we do should be to glorify God and serve Him. We also need to be sympathetic, love each other, be compassionate, and be humble. All these things will make us better as individuals, but shines more when it is demonstrated through a community family. The last part of it is important in verse 9. Basically don’t fight fire with fire. We live in a world where it’s almost like an eye for an eye. If I punch you, then expect to get punched back. When you think back to the community, this would tend to be something that does happen and this ends up breaking bonds and sever ties. Instead of doing this, it says to repay evil with blessing. Imagine there was a situation and you just blew up and got angry at a barista just because they got your order wrong or maybe you were just having a bad day. You would think they would possibly start arguing back at you, but this person was patient, apologetic and understanding. They ask you if you are doing alright and even give the drink to you as complimentary due to the mistake. Now how would that change your day? I think as Christians and followers of God, that is what we need to strive for and overall achieve. Ask yourself how I can make someone’s day and who knows, that might just give you the opportunity to talk about Jesus and what He has done in your life.