Discipleship Letters 13-14

Discipleship Letter 13                                                June 1, 2008

“When I look through others’ eyes, I see their lives as they see them. It does not mean I agree with them. Acceptance is not necessarily approval. But it does mean that I have taken the time to try to see what they see” (Alice Fryling, Disciple-Makers’ Handbook, p. 73.).

Acceptance: As disciplers, we must accept our disciples just as God has accepted them in Christ. Christ embraces us on the cross just as we are. All Christ’s disciples don’t need to pretend what we are not. Rather, God saves us in Christ just as we are.

Approval: Acceptance is not equal to approval. We accept who you are. By no means, we approve what you do and value. A discipling process is the process of growth. Growth implies that we fall short of something, and there is plenty of room for improvement. In appropriate time, speak the truth in love.

Appreciation: To appreciate someone is to recognize God’s creative work. The psalmist said, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it” (Ps. 139:14). In a discipling process, this kind of God-given uniqueness must be recognized, for God’s character is embedded in his creatures.

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Discipleship Letter 14                                                            June 8, 2008

“Part of disciplemaking is sharing with your young Christian friend how God has taught you and helped you through the influence of Scripture. The Word of God needs to have cut through your own life before you can convince your friend…” (Alice Fryling, Disciple-Makers’ Handbook, p. 106.).

Does the Scripture have any influence in your life? As Christians, the Scripture is the source of our teaching and the norm of our action. In disciplemaking, if disciplers don’t embrace the Scripture in high regard, study it with reverence, and live it out with obedience, how can we expect our disciples to be influenced by our thought and action?

Paul (a discipler) said to Timothy (a disciple) that God’s Word “is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right” (2 Tim. 3:16). Did Paul say one thing and do the opposite? If the Scripture is the measuring rod for Timothy, isn’t it for Paul as well? You tell people to read the Scripture. Don’t you read?

“Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them, too? Don’t you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?” (Rom. 2:3-4). Re-prioritize your time to read His Word daily.