Photo Credit: Martin LaBar
Creative Commons
The Cost of Discipleship
When we think of the cost of discipleship, often we think of how much it costs the one being discipled. However, there is a cost for the person doing the discipling. Nothing echoes discipleship like relationship. And one of the most important commodities that produces relationships is time. The investment of time into the lives of His disciples was one of the most important activities that Jesus engaged in. He knew that the success of his ministry was tied to the success of his disciples.
In order to ask those whom we disciple to pay the cost of discipleship we must match or even surpass that price by giving to them the love, time, and nurturing that they need. Jesus had no problem asking those whom he discipled to forsake all and follow him. This is because he forsook all to spend time with them. When we give that amount of investment in their lives, we will see them do even greater works.
This has what has been happening with Nott Chankhan in the Boklua district of Nan province in northern Thailand. He has been investing time in the new followers of Christ by training them to be more than followers of Jesus, he has been training them to be the ministers of Jesus. It has taken time and sacrifice to see these new believers equipped and discipled. Two young ladies from one of the new churches have been reaching out to villages where there is no church.
When we invest time into people and give them our best then God takes that investment and multiplies it into more souls for Christ, miracles, and transformed lives. The kingdom of God is advanced in their lives and through their lives. because we paid the price of time and love. Nott invested into the lives of those young ladies. As a result of that invest a church has been planted and the name of Christ has been glorified in that village.
~ Tony Foster
