Come, Follow Me

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19

When Jesus called his disciples none of them seemed to resist the call to leave everything and become the students of an itinerant rabbi. Even people with a lucrative career like Matthew responded and left his tax collection business to follow Jesus. 

I wonder what it was about the invitation that attracted those first disciples? Perhaps it was because none of them would likely ever have been asked by anyone in the religious establishment to consider a lifestyle in ministry. Maybe there was something attractive and compelling about Jesus that made it hard to refuse. Whatever it was, they accepted the invitation and experienced a life like they could not possibly have anticipated. 

After a few years of training they were given a couple of final instructions by Jesus. One of those instructions was to go and duplicate themselves, in other words, make more disciples throughout the world. But before they were to go they were to wait for anointing and power and blessing and enablement. This came when they were filled by the Holy Spirit. 

In a few short years disciples were popping up all over the known world. Paul and Silas were not part of the original twelve but they caught the vision and accepted the mission Jesus had given to others. In Thessalonica they were accused of turning the world upside down and bringing trouble to this city. 

Throughout the centuries, since Jesus physically left the world, there has usually been opposition to the Gospel message. Nevertheless, from the first disciples down through the ages to us today, the mandate has not changed. We are all called to be part of Jesus' disciple-making ministry. The first disciples needed to be nurtured and trained before they were ready to take on the assignment Jesus had for them. It is the same for us today. We need training and guidance in how to make disciples and here at Foundations 4 Living it is our desire to train up disciple-makers all over the world. 

Disciple-making starts with sharing the good news and helping people get on the path to find their place in God's great story. This is followed by mentorship, study, and practical suggestions for personal growth so that every disciple becomes equipped as a disciple-maker. This process is now underway in 20 countries and many more are asking us for assistance as well. It is an amazing privilege to have a small part to play in Jesus' mandate to go and make disciples and I thank each of you for the significant role you are playing in this work.