12/21/2024
13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you. 2 Co 1:13–14
I was listening to a pastor teaching through this passage. He used an illustration that sparked something in me that I think is important for us as believers to understand. “Sometimes when we correct our children they don’t get it or understand where we are coming from, what we are saying, and why it is important. Our response is ‘One day when you have your own kids you will understand!’” What that sparked in me is this thought- “One day when you have your own disciples you will understand”! In other words, when we are trying to do what Jesus said for us to do, “make disciples” we will only then fully understand all that we, ourselves have in Christ. This verse seems to support this idea,
and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. Phm 6
Here is the flip side of that principle. If we are not making disciples then possibly we don’t know the fulness of what we have in Christ. If we are not doing evangelism and discipleship maybe we are stunting our own growth. Maybe if we are not participating in what God is doing, gathering a people for Himself, then we are failing to experience the nearness of Christ and His promise to be with us!
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mt 28:18–20
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