How can we be disciples that faithfully follow Christ, and how can we make disciples who also faithfully follow Christ? The large task of accomplishing the Great Commission is not our task to perform for Jesus, or even with Jesus, but rather a task that Jesus accomplishes through us. If we are willing to be the people He has called us to be, and are willing to do what He has called us to do, then God will do many great things through us.
So what must we be willing to do so God can work through us?
There are three simple words that answer that question. They are the 3 E’s!
Engage….means to look for opportunities to talk with and build a relationship with people around you. Whether they are saved or lost, we need to be about connecting people to Christ. If they don’t know Jesus, this is the first step in building a relationship with them to talk about their eternal destiny. If they do know Christ, this will be a chance for you to let them know what God is doing in your life, and have someone they can come to and count on.
Encourage….means we need to not only build a relationship with people around us, but we need to encourage them to either come to Christ if they are lost, but encourage them to grow in Christ if they are saved. We need to be able to encourage a lost person to come to know Christ because we know how to and are comfortable in sharing the message of Christ with them. We also need to be growing in our walk with Jesus as a disciple so we can challenge and encourage others who know Him to grow in theirs as well.
Enlist…..means that we need to invite people to come to Christ and share with them how they can be saved. We need to build relationships with them, and tell them the truth, but we must tell them how to be a part of the family of God through faith in Christ. If someone is saved, we need to enlist them to be a part of what God is doing in your neighborhood, and in our church family. There are places to serve right here and ministries to be done.
Can you live out the 3 E’s? Absolutely, you can. The question is….Will you live out the 3 E’s?
Will you give up a life that centers on yourself, and live to look for others that need to be encouraged, need to be saved, and need to come into the family of God?
