I was listening to a podcast the other day about discipleship and the church. This continues to be part of my regular diet of ongoing learning, for me in my own desire to be a disciple and to come alongside others, as well learning about what others are doing and learning.

A comment by the person being interviewed was that this is a very difficult time to be a disciple of Jesus. He talked about the state of the world, the decline of the church, the political situation, and many other things – the standard stuff I’m hearing these days. He wasn’t pessimistic in any way from how I heard him, he was simply stating what he thought was fact. He was still very much engaged in the journey of being a disciple and coming alongside others.

Yet for some reason, this comment stopped me. And I asked myself – is this a difficult time to be a disciple of Jesus? Is this simply said as an acceptable comment to make among Christian leaders? (There are many of these types of comments actually that I’m starting to question. Perhaps some future blogs on this.)

I thought about other times in history starting with the time immediately following Jesus’ ascension and the start of the ecclesia. Surely that was difficult. Read the book of Acts and the many letters in the New Testament.

I thought about Christians in countries like Iran and the blatant persecution that goes on – surely that is a difficult place to be a disciple.

I’m currently reading the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas – I highly recommend it. He stood up to the entire Nazi regime as well as the German church. Definitely a difficult time to be a disciple.

So when was it easy then? I was born in 1966 in Canada. Going to church in the 1970s and 1980s seemed rather acceptable. Surely to be a disciple during that time then could be thought of as being easy perhaps.

And then I wondered if this is even the wrong question to be asking and pondering. Could it be that being a disciple is neither hard nor easy. We may choose this way of looking at it because it seems difficult to give up those things that we love – a particular way of life, certain relationships, a desired health status, and on we could go.

Yet these things are simply saying more of what we believe about God and how we think he should interact with us and our circumstances, than it does about who God really is.

Being a disciple of Jesus, is to fully entrust ourselves to the life God has for us. To follow him no matter our life circumstances. That God is in control of all things, that his love for us can never be questioned, and that one day we will rule with him in a new heaven and a new earth. 

Jesus told us up front that “in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” 

Can I be bold and declare that for me to say that being a disciple is difficult is to not believe who God is? By even giving myself permission to say life is hard being a disciple is to not believe the promises of God?

Perhaps I need to reflect on this some more. Yet being a disciple is simply to align myself with God, who designed everything, who is over everything, who will bring all things into submission. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is now in me.

So is this a difficult time to be a disciple of Jesus? Has there ever been a difficult time?

Let the conversation begin.

For the Kingdom.

I had coffee with a young man last week, just to hear his story of faith. I had met him previously at an event and we had had a brief conversation, but I wanted to hear more, the long version of his story – his God story.

I never grow old of how the Holy Spirit just shows up and pursues someone. 

This particular story takes place in the country of Lithuania, where my wife and I spend about 5 months each year serving with an amazing church. This church is filled with people who were pursued by God and simply had to say yes.

For this young man, other than some Catholic church engagements growing up, his family had no significant connection to faith in Jesus. And he himself felt no draw to Christianity. 

University years led him down a path of various and sundry “substance enjoyments”. Studying outside the country didn’t help things either. He moved back home.

“By chance”, he was invited to an event one evening that had some artists providing a training session and they “happened” to share their faith in Jesus. This led to him being invited to a church service where he invited his then girlfriend to. She was even more skeptical than he was. Yet when she walked into the service, she felt a hug, not from a person, but something outside of her. After the service a woman “randomly” came up and offered to pray for her. She wanted to say no and leave but found herself saying yes. It all changed from there.

Four years later, they continue to grow in faith, have gotten married, and are moving forward in life and faith.

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. Matthew 6 (NLT)

As someone who is always watching for the next person God wants to send my way, my radar was ringing strong. Who is walking alongside this young man? Who will be available to help the roots grow deep?

Thus, we had coffee. So I could hear the long story, be encouraged, and ask the question: who is coming alongside you?

I never grow tired of these stories and the opportunities they provide to build into someone. 

You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT)

How about you? Have you enjoyed an amazing God-story lately? Did it make your heart leap in awe? Was your radar ringing? Did you consider what your role in this person’s life could be?

We are called to “make disciples of all nations”. We will each have various ways by which we will go about that, yet the call is still there.

I’m grateful for the opportunities to impact a life. How about you?

The Spirit shows up – be ready to serve.

For the kingdom.