True Missional Disciple

Introduction

On international news channels, we hear constant negative news about Pakistan. But there is another side of the coin. There are many challenges, no doubt, but there are also many opportunities to practice as Christians. God is working through the churches there to be salt and light for Him in that culture.

1 Timothy 2:3–4 (NIV)

3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

God’s desire is for all people to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus. Christ is our Master and we are His disciples. He has called us to follow Him. It is our utmost priority to become like Jesus.

Christ went to the cross because of His agape love for us; this same love should flow from our lives so that people may see the love of God through us.

Characteristics of a True Missional Disciple

1. Active and Passionate Follower of Jesus

A true missional disciple is one who is an active and passionate follower of Jesus, obeying the Great Commandment.

Luke 10:27 (NIV)

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

This is an intentional daily decision to carry our cross and follow Him throughout the days of our Christian walk, not allowing ourselves to become nominal Christians as the years go by.

2. Sharing Faith and Obeying the Great Commission

A true missional disciple shares his/her faith, obeying the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Great Commandment is the foundation for all believers. We cannot embark on the Great Commission effectively without first fulfilling the Great Commandment.

3. Seeing Through God’s Perspective

A true missional disciple can see people and circumstances through God’s perspective.

In John 8:3–11, the crowd saw the woman caught in adultery with judgment, but Jesus saw her as someone deserving God’s mercy and compassion. We are also called to mirror Christ in our thinking, emotion, and action. To do that, we need to be connected to Him on a daily basis.

4. Having a Strong Prayer Life

A true missional disciple has a strong prayer life.

John 15:5 (NIV)

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.

Without prayer, there is no mission. We need to understand that we are in a spiritual warfare. Through prayer, we are essentially dependent on God fully for everything we do in missions. With the power of the Holy Spirit and in prayer, spiritual blind eyes can be opened.

5. Knowing the Urgency of Reaching the Lost

A true missional disciple knows the urgency of reaching the lost.

1 Corinthians 9:22 (NIV)

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

We often do not reach out to the lost due to fear. But God has promised us in His Word that He will be with us and that we need not fear. Around the world, people are willing to die in the name of their religion and their false hope. What about us Christians who have the true living hope? We must remind ourselves that the gospel message we carry is far more important than our earthly lives.

Therefore, we ought to seize every opportunity to reach out to the lost with boldness, with the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. Time is short and Jesus is coming back soon.

6. Being Eternity-Focused

A true missional disciple is eternity-focused.

Revelation 21:3–4 (NIV)

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

We will all die one day. Death is a reality on earth, but that is not the end for us. Where will we go after we die? In eternity, we will be in God’s presence, worshipping Him forever. Where there is opportunity, talk to people about Jesus and about the living hope that we have in Him.

7. Being a Team Player

Mission work is always a teamwork. It is not a one-man show. It is about trusting, equipping, and delegating people to be sent out to the mission field. Jesus Himself invested in and equipped His 12 disciples for the ministry.

Conclusion

We all need to become missional disciples of the Lord Jesus. We need to become active and intentional to accomplish what He has commissioned us to do. Amidst the darkness we see in the world, the Lord is still drawing people to Himself.

How can you be involved in missions? By praying, giving, and going! It is time to re-evaluate our commitment and our passion for the lost.