Where Are Your Priorities?

First things first. Keep the main thing the main thing. When leaders realize that many of those who came to church events–even went forward to accept Christ–did not seem to follow through to become disciples (followers), they questioned their priorities as leaders. What needs to change?

Ralph Rittenhouse, senior pastor of one church for 32 years writes a SOAP devotional about his perceptions and experiences to change priorities to make disciples who make disciples. "The church exists for no other purpose than to make us little Christs," as CS Lewis said. Becoming the person that God created you to be means that God us shaping you into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. Your rsurrender to His plan is paramount.

Scripture

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

Observation

In Hebrews we see a strong challenge run the race that Christ has set our for us. This is not a sprint, but more like a marathon. It involves a lengthy process of jettisoning worldly baggage, purifying our minds and embracing a new and extraordinary lifestyle. Look at the definition of jettison:

to get rid of as superfluous or encumbering : omit or forgo as part of a plan or as the result of some other decision; to drop (cargo) to lighten a ship's load in time of distress

Application

The church context that I grew up in focused on decisions and baptisms. Twice annually we would schedule a week of evangelistic meetings. We would bring in an outside evangelist who could preach very persuasively, encouraging people across the finish line, a decision for Christ.

In preparation for these events, the entire congregation was challenged to pray, and mobilized to invite our friends and neighbors to come. We handed out flyers and knocked on doors, praying hard that people we knew and loved would make that all important decision. When they did, there was a feeling of jubilation and victory. It was a great joy to see them walk down the aisle or raise their hand indicating they had given their life to Christ.

• We scheduled new believers classes to encourage them to be baptized.
• We told them about our church history.
• We emphasized how important it was for them to attend worship services.
• We told them to pray.
• We helped them with guides to read their Bibles.

But, that was all after the race was over, after they had crossed the line.

I am not quite sure why it took me so long, but eventually I began to realize, conversion was not the real finish line.

Jesus told us to teach them to obey all the commands He had given us. Jesus spent three and a half years with 12 men almost 24/7, training and teaching them, watching their actions, attitudes and lives change.

The finish line according to Jesus was much further down the spiritual road than ours. He said, "Follow Me."

We were taught how to get others to sign up for the race, but we had stopped too soon. We had not completed the task to walk alongside their sanctification (becoming like Christ). When we looked back, we realized that many who made those early decisions were not ever seen again in church. Did they think they were saved forever by one decision rather than by a surrendered heart to continue to follow Jesus?

They had dropped out of the race, if they had ever really started.

In contrast, Jesus did not just ask people for a decision. He asked them to become followers, and to leave everything else behind.

I now realize the importance of not just getting them to start the journey, but the necessity of walking alongside people continuing to encourage them on a daily basis, to surrender their entire lives to Jesus.

One moment in time is not sufficient.

That one brief decision during a highly emotional meeting might be the beginning, but it was not the race. True life change–authentic conversion–is usually a result of an extended relationship.

Why do we stop so soon? Maybe because it is much easier to count the number of people who come forward in a meeting, the number of hands that were raised, the number of decision cards that were turned in.

But that is just the starting line, not the finish line. That is when people are just indicating their initial desire to walk with Christ. The truly surrendered life is indicated in the days and months that follow.

It is much harder to tally the number of people who truly become disciples of Jesus.

But decision numbers never indicate authentic disciplemaking.

Jesus never called us to get decisions. He called us to make disciples. Jesus called people to give up their lives and to come and be His followers. The true finish line is not the initial decision to start the race. That is just step #1 to becoming His follower.

The true finish line is when someone is so completely committed to Christ and obedient to His instructions that they orient their entire life to doing what he did, expanding His kingdom by making disciples who make disciples.

Prayer

Father, forgive us for our short-sightedness. Forgive us for just counting numbers that make us feel good and make us look successful.

Clarify for us the collaboration between large groups of evangelism that start the race, small groups of relationship-building that encourage the race, and MicroGroups of transparency and intentionality that make disciples who make disciples to finish strong.

Help us to see, through the eyes of Jesus, making the surrendered, sacrificial, sanctifying (becoming like Christ), and service commitment to walk the path of disciplemaking, running and walking alongside people to the true goal: glorifying You, God Almighty.

Alert us to shed worldly baggage, purify our minds, and embrace Your new and extraordinary lifestyle. Change our priorities to be Your will, not ours be done. In Jesus' powerful name and authority, Amen!