The Shared Journey

Finding friends to help us with our walk with Jesus is essential. When one tries to do Christianity alone, it never works out in the end, but it becomes easier when one is part of a group, especially when that group keeps each other accountable. For example, breaking one pencil is easy, but it becomes more challenging to break a bundle of pencils. This is what a shared journey is. It shows us that we are not alone in following Jesus.

One thing that I think is important in discipleship is having friends that care. When one has friends, they are not alone in life. Friendship is essential for discipleship because when you have a friend, they can be there and have your back always. However, one thing to be aware of is that there is a difference between having real friends and fake friends. True friends will help and keep you accountable and influence you to make the right decisions. Fake friends will use you and influence you to do bad things and eventually double-cross you. As Christians, it is essential to be careful who we choose to be our friends because who we choose can influence us and can also affect one’s relationship with Jesus.

Another aspect of discipling is how you influence others. How do you act around other people? Do you show Jesus in your actions? What we say and do have a impact on whether people accept Jesus. For example, back in Rolla, there was this boy who mimicked everything that I did. When I was mature, he was mature. However, when I was immature, he was immature. This brings me to my next point which is that we never know who is watching. When we disciple others, we must be a good influence on that person. Not in the sense of a parent and child relationship, but as in a brother teaching a brother. When one receives Christ as his savior, that person becomes a part of a family. Each person in that family has a role to play, and it is easier to do that role when we work together and not against each other.

Another critical thing to realize is that it is okay to disagree on specific issues. What is not okay is dividing the church in non-salvation matters. If one has a problem with a brother, that person must resolve those issues. It should not become a “he said she said” situation because it makes the situation worse. It can even affect other people and, in extreme cases, discourage them from following Christ.

In conclusion, it is essential to realize that discipleship is more than just something we talk about. It is something we need to live. Christians must treat each other with kindness, love each other, and be willing to keep each other accountable that is what discipleship is all about.