REFLECTIONS
March 13, 2011 Refreshed from June 5, 2005
 
 
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
2 Corinthians 5:20
                                                                                 
 
Making Disciples
Part Two in the series Graduating from Sunday School
 
Something stopped me that morning as I arose from my devotional time. I was preparing to do the things that I had always done and in that moment I became aware that I no longer wanted to do those usual things. So I paused and asked myself, “Richard, why did God make you? Why did He bring you to this place and this time, and why did He lead you down the road that brought you to this point in your life?”
The search for answers that morning began a transformational journey of discovery that led me to view life differently, to walk down new paths, and to pursue a mission I believe God has called me to. The pursuit of the mission has dared the use of the Sunday school diploma that was the subject of a previous Reflections. 
Jesus commissioned us all to make disciples, but like most other people I really didn’t feel qualified to try. But neither did Abraham, Moses, Ruth, David, the twelve disciples, or Apostle Paul. When God called them, these were ordinary people doing ordinary things like herding sheep, homemaking, fishing, and tent making. God had been using them in those ordinary roles before calling them to something new and different.
We spend the majority of our time doing ordinary work. We worship on Sunday and perhaps participate in church sponsored programs at various times during the week; but by far most of our time is dedicated to being ordinary people doing ordinary things. So when Jesus asks us to, “go and make disciples…” (Mt 28:19); and Paul tells us that, “each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him,” (1 Co 7:17) they are not suggesting that we lead two lives—one for God and one of the world. We are called to one life, the life of a follower of Jesus Christ.
When we are committed to Jesus, our “ordinary work” becomes sacred. Through it we assume real shepherding roles without becoming professional clergy or limiting our spiritual activities to programs of the church. By abiding in Jesus and allowing Him to live in us, we become Christ’s ambassadors that illuminate a path that others will follow.
And isn’t that what making disciples is all about.
 
You are the light of the world,
RichardÌ


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