Go into all the World and make disciples

Jesus in his last command to the church from Matthew 28 said "Go into all the world and make disciples...". Today I was contemplating this scripture and started to think, what does this ultimately look like. Naturally we know what a disciple of Jesus looks like, someone who in turn is producing the same sort of fruit that Jesus produced in his life, that is doing the very things that Jesus did when he walked the earth. Healing the sick, making the blind to see, the lame to walk and proclaiming the year of the Lords favour. This is not limited to the natural but also the spiritual.

So we know what disciples look like, but what does the making of disciples look like, how do we practically engage in the making of disciples? Is their a formula or program or even flow chart that can demonstrate how this takes place? I doubt there is and if there were I am confident that everyone would know about it.

In no way am I going to claim to have THE answer, but I would like to share a simple observation I have made in my own life.

Whilst at home today, I decided to start a fire in our combustion fire to warm the house up. Naturally when we start fires there are a few elements necessary to make a good fire. Firstly, we need fuel, something that can burn and in turn can sustain the flame. Secondly, we need heat or at least a flame as a source of ignition. Thirdly we need oxygen, for when there is no oxygen the flame cannot be sustained. When all of these elements are in place, we can make fire, but naturally it also requires something or someone to bring all these things together. There are potentially many ways in which these elements can come together, for example in nature, especially in warm dry climates like Australia where many fires are ignited from lightning setting aflame many of the grasses and dry branches that are found across this parched landscape.

What is interesting about fires or flames is that when they come into contact with materials such as tried up branches it takes very little for them to catch alight. In deed scientist tells us that it is the simple transference of heat to these items that see them catch fire. This was displayed when I finally got my own fire place alight, to continue to see my home maintain it's heat, all I needed to do was place more logs on the already burning fire, they inturn began to burn.

This I believe is a way in which we ourselves make disciples of Jesus. When we are alive, alight and inflamed with the very Spirit of God and the presence of Jesus, it takes very little for those around us to also become alive. Proverbs 27 in the bible also speaks of this, "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." This I would say is a very organic or natural way in which we can make disciples but of cause it is not the only and limited way to do so.

The pre-requisite for others to be inflamed by the power of Jesus within each of us is that we must first be full of his love, power and presence. I pray that I can be this person every day of my life and when I am not, that I can be full of His grace.