READING: John 16:7
“Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).
The words are in some ways difficult to believe. Jesus said it would be good for Him to leave His disciples. He had been with them, taught them, rebuked them when needed, and trusted them with ministry – but now it would be good for Him to leave. It would be good because He would send the Holy Spirit to them, and that Spirit would indwell them. Jesus could be physically with them in only one place, but the Spirit would go with them wherever God led them.
Our situation as disciplemakers is different, of course, but it’s also good for us to think in these terms. We disciple others so they will walk fully with Christ, and we must eventually send them out as disciplemakers themselves. If we raise up disciples who only cling to us, we’ll be growing our own kingdom rather than God’s kingdom.
The best thing we can do is teach them to rely on Christ, launch them to their own work, and be there for them as needed. From the beginning, we must encourage them to invest in others.
Who are you discipling today? And, who is your disciple discipling?
PRAYER: “Father, help me to invest in others and then send them out in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Kings 24-25, John 13:1-20