There are many ways in which we can learn. We learn by listening, by reading and by experiencing things. The best methods for learning combine multiple approaches to help us learn and apply what we have learned. It is invaluable to have a “master” at a trade to teach us a skill personally. We can walk alongside them and participate with them. We support them for a time and learn how to perform the skill ourselves. This is often referred to as an “apprenticeship”.
Paul and Silas were covering a lot of ground during Paul’s second missionary journey. They were strengthening the churches and bringing in new believers daily. They had much success! It would be easy for them to just continue along the way as a pair, as they had been doing. However, Paul was drawn to Timothy and chose to invest time and effort in making a disciple of Timothy.
1Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. 5So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.
What a great opportunity for Timothy to come alongside a man of great faith and understanding such as Paul! Credit is due to Paul for inviting and Timothy for accepting. This approach of investing in a more personal relationship with a smaller group of believers to help develop them is quite consistent with Jesus’ approach. Yes, both Paul and Jesus shared the gospel with large crowds, but each also took the extra time to identify the disciples that were worthy of investing extra time and effort in so that they would also be able to further the kingdom of God.
Each of us should look for opportunities to help disciple others that God brings across our paths. We should not choose them superficially, but gather information about them (as Paul did) and choose carefully and wisely. We should be careful not to allow ourselves to feel so busy that we neglect to take the extra time and effort to disciple individuals instead of just teaching crowds. It may be that the individuals you disciple will have great impact on the world for God’s kingdom.
Who has God brought across your path that you feel you should reach out to and disciple? Is there someone in your life that you may want to reach out to and ask for their support as a mentor? I encourage you to reach out to fellow believers, both those that need your help and those who can help you to continue on lifelong journey to honor and serve Jesus Christ.
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