Deeper ReflectionSpiritual multiplication was Jesus’ idea. Before Jesus ascended
into heaven, He commanded His disciples to make disciples of all
nations. New disciples were in turn to pass on Jesus’ teachings
to others, requiring their obedience to all His commands, which include
discipling the nations. That process was to be repeated everywhere
until Jesus returns at the end of the age. This disciplemaking movement
commissioned by Jesus – “the Great Commission” – was to be carried out
throughout the whole earth, so that no ethnic group in any nation would
be unreached.The Apostle Paul understood and obeyed the Great Commission. Paul
not only preached the Gospel and taught the Scriptures to many people,
he also closely discipled a few men. One of them was Timothy. Paul’s
instruction to Timothy was closely patterned after the Great Commission:
“what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust
to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2). Paul’s
key concern was the continuity of the disciplemaking movement.
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He commanded Timothy to pass on Jesus’ teachings to people who fit
certain important criteria – faithful people who will themselves be able to
teach others also. Do whatever it takes, Timothy – endure suffering, stay
focused, run with discipline and work with diligence!
74Will you personally receive Paul’s instruction to Timothy? Will you
invest your life in a few people to make disciples who will go on to
make disciples? If your answer is “Yes”, then ask God today for a fresh
empowering from His Spirit to do your part in the ongoing work of the
Church to fulfil the Great Commission.
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73 Especially at that time when he was anticipating his imminent death: see 2 Timothy 4:6-9.
74 The present writer’s paraphrase of 2 Timothy 2:3-6.
75 Acts 1:8.
