Perhaps it is not too far off the mark to say adult conduct is a process. Mature conduct is generally developed through self-discipline, resilience, and continuing effort. How much better it is to gain respect and love through worthy parental conduct than to seek it through the means of the age differential. By your faith and works you will be known for what you are. By your fruits you will be known and classified.
Those among us who use abusive arguments, temper tantrums, demeaning and painful criticism, fruitless counter-complaints, and disrespect will benefit no one. Let us put away petty malice, resentment, and retaliatory practices that are self-destructive and return to a path of safety well marked by the Good Shepherd. When maturity begins to set in, adult lives set in. It is alarming how many older people go through life without ever becoming real adults. While Jesus stood in front of an angry mob, who sneered and condemned, Pilate tried to get Him to respond and retaliate.
While Jesus is asking questions and listening in the temple, his parents show up. Listen, Your father and I have been sick with worry for the last three days, wondering where You were, looking everywhere for You.
Jesus: 49 Why did you need to look for Me? The hinge in the middle of this passage is verse 49 where Jesus leans into His purpose. Jesus knew that his growth was ultimately preparation for the fulfillment of His mission. In the years when Scripture is predominantly silent on his life.
But the 30 years between his birth and his public ministry are almost silent. All we know about those years is what we read in Luke 2. Personal growth in the hidden years is what God uses to prepare you for the public years. Keep your eye on your purpose, and keep growing toward your purpose. Jesus was intentional about His growth so He could be impactful with His purpose.
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If the meetings occur at the same time and day during the week that is also beneficial. In addition to in-person meetings, stay in contact throughout the week, or at least have the opportunity available for phone calls, and text messages. In order to take discipleship to the next level, there must be vulnerability on both ends.
The discipler sets the tone for this by his or her own vulnerability. Especially use wisdom if stories of a wild past would portray the wrong view to a new believer that these things are okay or glorified in your testimony. Offer an option to opt-out of answering personal questions. There is no pressure either way. Allow your trusted mentor to know you on deeper levels to allow them to speak life into those situations.
Accountability is being honest about where you are. Its honesty about struggles, fears, and areas of sin. Accountability exposes darkness and allows the light to come in. Keep in touch with one another each time you meet up. Additionally, allow the option for immediate contact if needed. If your disciple struggles with specific temptations, keep your phone readily available and encourage them to call you whenever they feel tempted.
You can also be vulnerable as a disciple-maker. Include your disciple with some of your struggles to show that you can relate. This also empowers the disciple to feel needed and as if they have something to bring to the table. Of course, always be careful in what you share as the disciple-maker. Heavy issues should be shared with your own mentor. Discipleship is much like friendship. Allow yourself to become close with the person like you would with a sister, brother, friend, or parent, depending on the age range.
In Christ, we are a family and a community. Whenever possible, partake in daily life together. You can carpool, run errands, work on projects together, and do fun activities together.
This provides more opportunity for discussion and the building of trust and relationship. If you are the disciple-maker, support your disciple in their sporting events, and extra-curricular activities.
Prayer is a crucial aspect in all areas of faith, especially spiritual maturity and discipleship. It reveals to us who God is. Teach your disciple to prayer. Pray together and pray for one another. Furthermore, pray about all things and before all things. Open up your meetings with prayer and close them with prayer.
Fasting has been a part of the faith since the beginning. It commonly goes alongside prayer, and petition to the Lord. It is not required but it is beneficial. Most Christians who regularly fast speak highly of the depth they have with the Lord during that time. Jesus Himself fasted, as well as His disciples and their disciples.
To reach spiritual maturity, faith is necessary. One easy way to build faith is by keeping a prayer journal. Write specific prayers down and then look back at them later.
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