Encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing (1
Thessalonians 5:11).

Jesus’ primary call to His disciples is seen in His words "Come to Me"
(Matthew 11:28) and "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19). Mark records: "He appointed
twelve, that they might be with Him, and that He might send them out to preach, and to
have authority to cast out the demons" (Mark 3:14, 15). Notice that Jesus’
relationship with His disciples preceded His assignment to them.

Discipleship is the intensely personal activity of two or more persons helping each
other experience a growing relationship with God. Discipleship is being before doing,
maturity before ministry, character before career.

Every Christian, including you, is both a disciple and a discipler in the context of
his Christian relationships. You have the awesome privilege and responsibility both to be
a teacher and a learner of what it means to be in Christ, walk in the spirit and live by
faith. You may have a role in your family, church or Christian community which gives you
specific responsibility for discipling others, such as husband/father, pastor, Sunday
school teacher, discipleship group leader, etc. But even as an appointed discipler, you
are never not a disciple who is learning and growing in Christ through your relationships.
Conversely, you may not have an "official" responsibility to disciple anyone,
but you are never not a discipler. You have the opportunity to help your children, your
friend, and other believers grow in Christ through your caring and committed relationship
with them.

Similarly, every Christian is both a counselor and counselee in the context of his
Christian relationships. A good counselor should be a good discipler, and a good discipler
should be a good counselor. Biblically, they are the same role. Your level of maturity may
dictate that you do a lot of Christian counseling.

But there will still be times when you need to seek or receive the counsel of other
Christians. There will never be a day when we don’t need each other.

Father, help me remember that I will never be so mature that I need not receive godly
counsel from my brothers and sisters in Christ.

———–

This daily devotional is published and distributed by http://www.GOSHEN.net/

It is written by Neil Anderson at http://www.ficm.org/

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