Inside of You is a Treasure

I remember sitting in my Sunday school class as a little boy. My Sunday school teacher held up an acorn and asked the class, “what do you see?”. Some said that they saw an acorn. Others said that they saw a tree. Others, like myself, said that they saw a whole orchard full of oak trees. However, that wasn’t the answer the Sunday school teacher was looking for either. She said, I see that from this one seed, you can build a whole city.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells us to “go and make disciples of all nations (people groups)”. I know that so many Christians wait until they know enough about The Bible or until they think that they’ve prayed enough, until they pour what they know out and actually “make a disciple” of somebody else. I want to encourage you today, to go and be the pastor of ONE. Just one.

Before you get too excited. Let’s set some basic ground rules. Rule number one—Love. You just have to love them. Rule number two: Life. Tell them your testimony. Here’s the deal; experience is always stronger than an argument. People will always want to debate scripture or doctrine, but your testimony will trump any debate 100% of the time. Just tell people of the great things that The Lord has done and is doing in your life and in your heart. Tell them of the reality of His Presence and the goodness of His love. That’s the gospel. That’s the good news of who He is.

Rule number 3: Live. In other words, show them. Be encouraging and be an example. Let your life be a light. The Bible says to walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7). What is that light? It is the light of love. It is the light of truth. It is just being real, transparent and doing right by others.

Here’s the last one: Multiply. Just like that acorn, you are called to multiply The Kingdom of God, so teach that one person you are pouring into to go pour into someone else. In other words, teach your disciple to make a disciple and become the pastor of one. Paul writes this to a young pastor that he was discipling (mentoring) in 2 Tim. 2:2 “The things you heard from me, commit these to faithful men who are able to teach others also.”

Did you get all four of those? If not I will recap will quickly for you. Love, Life, Live, and then Multiply. Remember, it’s not your ability that God’s looking for, because He will give you the words, it’s just us saying, “OK Lord, Here I am, use me for Your Glory.” Just like that acorn, inside of you is a treasure, and I want to encourage you today to let it out and let God bless it and watch what happens.

Is. 8:16 “Preserve the teaching of God; entrust His instructions to those who follow me."

- Brent Anderson