Deeper Reflection
Spiritual 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.73 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.75

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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.