What Jesus Did
If you had access to all the luxuries you could dream of, would you voluntarily give them up? If you had riches beyond your wildest imagination, would you lay them all down for someone you love?
That’s what Jesus did.
“He gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:7-8 NLT
Jesus gave up His divine privileges, temporarily, so that He could be with His people. So that He could pay their debt and redeem them back to Himself.
Because of that, God “elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names.” (Philippians 2:9 NLT)
So if you consider yourself to be a follower of Jesus, you are naturally called to follow Him. To reflect His love. And to, daily, die to yourself.
Though the call to die to oneself can be literal in some cases, more often, it's symbolic. It means giving up what we want in favor of something that could have an eternal impact.
Maybe, instead of binging a TV show or scrolling social media, you could visit someone in the hospital, take a meal to someone who’s hurting, or help a single parent.
Maybe, instead of rushing to get everything on your busy schedule finished, you could take the time to read the Bible with a child, befriend someone who’s lonely, or be present with the people around you.
Maybe, instead of waiting for God to send opportunities your way, you could seek out those who are desperate for Him—and help them see why He occupies the place of highest honor in your life.
The great news is, you have been empowered to do what Jesus did.
How to Make Disciples
Imagine being a disciple in Jesus’ day...
Just before Jesus returns to heaven, He commands you to tell all nations the story of the gospel. In your travels, you encounter new people and cultures and share all that God has done through His Son, Jesus. People’s lives are changed because of God’s salvation and His working through you.
God asks us to continue to make disciples in Jesus' name, because His is the only name that can offer salvation.
Disciple-making starts with loving others as God has loved us. It involves thoughtful teaching and instruction that points people toward a loving relationship with God. We can teach others about discipleship as we go about our daily lives. Here are two ways to get started…
MODELING:
But as for you, promote the kind of living that reflects right teaching. Titus 2:1 NIV
If we want to help people know God, it's important to have hearts that demonstrate Jesus’ teachings. Jesus cared for the poor and the oppressed. He cared more about ...