We are constantly learning! The main focus of the ministry we are involved in here under the Mwinika people more and more can be summed up in one word: Discipleship.
This is the one area where we can’t have a consultant to “train” us in, or a to-do list that we can tick off: “did this, check, did that, check”! The thing with discipleship seems that the more one is trying to be a discipler, the less one is able to be the example you think you’re supposed to be! So here is what we are learning:
- I can only give to others what I have received first: a personal and intimate relationship with God! Our focus therefore cannot be on our own behaviour (am I a good example?) or the person we are discipling (is he doing what I am teaching him?), but must in the first place be in our relationship with God. It sounds fundamental, but so easily forgotten …
- What I do and how I live, counts more than my words (or sermons or teaching)! (The “walk the talk” that we hear about). And we all know how impossible it is to try in imitate Jesus! We simply can’t. My own efforts are lacking and falls apart under pressure. We need the Holy Spirit to live Christ through us. This is only possible when we die – daily – to ourselves! We can’t, but He can! So, let go and let Him!
- Although I can’t live Jesus by my own strength, I should still be intentional in discipling others. This means that what we are learning and receiving from our Father on a daily basis, we should share with those that the Lord has brought into our lives. We should actively seek opportunities to demonstrated what we are learning. Sometimes we should even use words! 🙂
One of the best ways of teaching others the truths we know, is to let them use those opportunities that arise to live it! Such an opportunity arose a few days ago when we had some clothes that we could pass on. It was not enough to give to everyone and the choice we had to make was, who should get it?
The usual response in this culture would have been for the guys working closely with us to make sure they get it! Should we let them choose? And what if they choose to take it themselves? (As we have seen many times before there were believers!). We decided to put the question before them and let them decide.
We got a totally “abnormal” Mwinika response! The group of men decided to make a list of the most poor people in our community and each one could take something to go and give it to that person! This may not have been a normal Mwinika response, but it was a totally Jesus-like one! 🙂
We are so thankful that they made this decision, not just because it would help those in our community who virtually have nothing, but especially because this small act in kindness is communicating Christ to a community who largely does not know Him personally yet! May we see more and more Mwinika responding in a Christ-like manner, reaching those that are lost. Walk the Talk!