There is no question that young people need to be discipled to grow in their leadership abilities. The implications of the pandemic have disoriented and discouraged many leaders. I encourage you to rest on God’s sovereign involvement and leadership of your life as a leader. Scripture shows us the Lord determines your place, people, and purpose, even when you may not understand or have planned for it.
YOUR PLACE IS SAFE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES GOD CHOOSES
The wisdom and authority of God have allotted you to be where you are and where you will go. Acts 17:26 tells us:
“…he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place…” -Acts 17:26
You can also trust in his sovereignty to move you to his determined places within the allotted time and space he has established for you. We can see God’s purpose and plan in Matthew 2:13-23 as Mary and Joseph were exiled to a foreign land as a provision for Jesus to be born.
GOD PURPOSEFULLY CONNECTS YOU TO CERTAIN PEOPLE
God chose the family you were born into, your spouse, the people in your neighborhood and your workplace, in your schools, and in your communities. You can trust his sovereignty by being thankful and intentional with these relationships.
Jesus prayerfully chose the 12 disciples to invest intentional time with so that they might go out and preach. He shows us a valuable and timeless strategy of being intentional with a few so that he can reach many. Perhaps there are specific people who are in your life that he is calling you to disciple so that they may go and share the Gospel with others. Our investment in a few goes far beyond these relationships.
YOUR PURPOSE IS OUTLINED AND IT IS AMAZING
"And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. "And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons." - Mark 3:13-15
Mark 3:13-15 outlines the basic purpose for anyone who is rooted in Christ. There are 3 principles that He calls his followers into:
- Be rooted in Him. He wants you to BE with him more than anything else. (Ephesians 3:17, Colossians 2:7, Proverbs 12:3)
- Be verbal with what you know about Jesus. He wants us to be life-giving with our words and bring the Gospel into topics that people are talking about.
- Be in conflict with evil. Prayer and service are ways to fight the spiritual battles that are going on all around us. He wants us to be active in our faith.
WHAT NOW?
We all find ourselves somewhere, even if it’s not the place or with who we imagined. How can you be an effective disciple in the place that God has determined for you now?
- Evaluate your personal life with Jesus. Do you trust his sovereignty over your life? Are you rooted in him?
- This worksheet will help you pray through who your 12 and 3 are. Spend time in prayer asking who you should be being intentional with.
- Brainstorm a list of ways that you can serve the people he has determined to be in your life right now. Pray through them and see what the Holy Spirit prompts in you. Trust and obey his direction.