I'm reading a book called The Calling of Emily Evans by Janette Oke. During a session of chapel where Emily attends Bible College the speaker calls on the listeners to serve God, telling of the many areas that have asked for churches to be established and the shortage of workers. Emily hurries to altar with seven of her peers. She is so excited about the fact that eight people had decided to serve the Lord!
Note: She is in Bible College. She and her fellow students are believers. And yet only eight decided to serve the Lord.
That there were only eight, eight out of 27, is unfortunate. I realize that this is a fictional story, but it is common in real life as well. People have the mindset that only the ones to have the call to full-time ministry are the ones who are supposed to serve. To minister means to serve, to wait upon. There are many different ways to serve the Lord. And it's not necessary to have a full-time job in service in order to do it!
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19, 20
Note: Jesus did not say, "Go therefore, those who are called to do so, and make disciples."
We, all of us, as believers on the Lord Jesus, have been called to serve. He told all of us to go and make disciples. To teach others Jesus' teachings. Now some of you when you hear 'go and make disciples' begin to think of going to the deepest, darkest part of the jungle where no man has gone to take the good news to an undiscovered cannibalistic people. Set that image aside right now! He said, "make disciples of all the nations" (emphasis added). Here is where the call comes in. Some people God will call to the deepest, darkest part of the jungle. Others He will call to China, India, or Russia. And still others He will call to Salt Lake City. But the place is not the issue. It's what you're doing in the place where God has you.
Every one of us, whether stay-at-home moms, CEOs, or traveling salesmen, have been called upon to minister, to wait upon the Lord. To wait upon the Lord means to, like a waiter, wait. Always listening to His every order and fulfilling said order. Those who are mature in the faith, not necessarily being older, need to disciple those who are younger in the faith. How does one make a disciple? Teach them the word of God. Simply spend time with someone younger in faith and teach them, pray with them. You don't need to go to seminary in order to do this.
"Who should I disciple?" Well, for those of you who have children in the house still, start with them. Highschoolers, you can share with your friends during lunch. You can share with your coworkers on your coffee break. Or invite the barista at Starbucks who always makes your coffee to come to a Bible study or cell group with you.
Don't be afraid to speak up. Jesus promised that He is with us to the end of the age. He will be the one to give you words, but you must take that step and open your mouth first in order for Him to fill it.
Remember, Jesus told all of us to minister to Him, to fulfill His order of teaching others the good news. Don't think that you can't serve God because you work for a secular company and not for a church. What better place to share the Good News than in a place where most have never heard it?
"Go therefore and make disciples"!
