Jesus say, "Follow Me... and make disciples"

     Today I met with a girl I am going to be discipling this coming semester. God placed this relationship on my heart at the end of last school year and then used the summer to really so me the importance of investing in other people through one-on-one discipleship.  I've never done this before so everything is new to me. Today was only the second time we met and already we are facing opposition. A girl sitting near us in Bentley interrupted us and made a mean, hurtful, and untrue statement about what we had been discussing and then left before I could even respond. 

"Being a disciple of Jesus means that we are being transformed into His image. God wants to change us so much that it intrigues others. This gives us the opportunity to tell them about the God who is transforming us. Teaching others about Christ is essential to being on of Jesus's disciples." -Multiply by Francis Chan

     And so it begins... People are getting intrigued; people are getting angry. The Bible says I will be hated for the work I do in Christ's name, but that isn't going to stop me from spreading His Word across campus or from loving on those who hate me. 

"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22

      This summer changed my life. My eyes have been opened to the fact that I hadn't been obeying the command to make disciples very well. I was only half living my life for Christ because I wanted people to know who Christ was but I did not actively seek to share the gospel with anyone. This summer my eyes were opened to the urgency of the gospel and the command to make disciples. As I draw closer to Christ and my desires match up more and more with His commands people will start hating me, but I will stand firm on the promises of Christ. I will be obedient. 

     Im thankful to this stranger who interrupted today. I'm thankful for the reminder that the world hated Christ first and that when I am truly following Christ then the world will also hate me. As I sat in shock after this girl walked off I didn't know how to react. Then I remembered Romans 12:14 says to, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" So I stopped and prayed for this girl who is clearly lost in the world of darkness. I do not know her name but God knows. I pray He will be working on her heart, and that doors will be opened for me to have the opportunity to share the gospel of God's grace with her. I am blessed to suffer for Christ's sake.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me." - John 15:18-21

- Amanda