Multiplication

Consider the weight of final words. When a person is moving, changing jobs, or at the end of one’s life, the words they say carry special significance. No longer are they at the periphery of what matters. They speak the words that matter most. At the end of Jesus’ time on earth he pulls his closest followers together and gives what would be his final exhortation: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 29:18-20). Considering Jesus’ love for God and people, these words are not surprising. The most loving thing one person can do for another is to help him or her reconcile and walk with God. Jesus exhorts his followers to reproduce themselves—to multiply—by making disciples throughout the entire world. This exhortation is not simply an exhortation to indoctrinate others. It is an exhortation to bring hope, healing, freedom, and grace to a world in desperate need of all of this and more. To do this, though, one must be willing to get involved in the messiness of life. Discipleship does not happen at a distance. It happens when we are in intentional relationship with those hungry to love God and love people. The intentional aspect of this is critical to multiplication. Yes, we can make a difference in the lives of others in countless ways, and we can help people spiritually in countless ways. To truly multiply, though, is when a person walks intentionally with others to train them in walking the way of Christ. We will all have varying capacities to do this, which is why we make an important distinction in multiplication between doing this “as your ministry” or “alongside your ministry”. For some, they’re main ministry may be leading a relief effort for the impoverished or being an advocate for refugees. With these ministries a person will look for ways to multiply oneself, but it will likely be done with 2 or 3 people “alongside their ministry”. Others, though, will make multiplication their primary ministry, work with 10 or 15 people, and do this “as their ministry”. Either way, the cause of Christ must multiply, and to do so, we must be intentional about inspiring and training each other to authentically walk the way of Christ.