The competent believer

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Many a times we hear from the pulpits that a Christian should be one of good character and morally sound and that is known by most believers and strive to live in the best way they could.

No wonder the phrase "what would Christ do?" If it were Him in a particular scenario. Although this is good, Christians are ignorant about them being well equipped and competent enough to represent Jesus fully to the dying world around them.

The christian should bear the competence to disciple others. The "do as I say and not as I do" thinking cannot work in this instance because you have people who look up to you for guidance and inspiration. No longer will you live a life which is selfish, but one which is a living example to the rest. 

Paul admonished Timothy to teach the things he had learned of Paul among many witnesses. Now that is a radical statement which a confident believer can make. Remember confidence is not arrogance. I thought Paul would say they should follow Christ! That is the false humility some have nowadays. They are not bold to say that they are a good example which others can follow. The example is not only in morals of which some Christians excel, but in competence of making disciples, planting Missional Families, planting churches, raising leaders, multiplying leaders, sharing the gospel in word and deed, holding crusades, going for missions, etc.

Do you know that you can command people to follow you as long as you are still following Christ? But you cannot give what you don't have and neither can you multiply or reproduce what you haven't imitated? You cannot plant a Missional family, if you haven't helped in planting one, you cannot plant a church if you haven't helped plant someone else's neither can you disciple others if you haven't discipled one. 

Doing great exploits in the kingdom with great competence starts by imitation and copying. The disciples copied Jesus because they had been with Him in close fellowship to the point that people said, "they had been with the Lord," Elisha did double the miracles of Elijah because he was discipled by him, the list is endless.

Who is your discipler? You are a total sum of the closest people in your circles, if you are a cheat, you definitely being influenced by a cheater. If you want to plant many churches and have many disciples, hang around those who are doing that. 

It is very possible to be the living example of who Christ can be in both character and competence. 

EK