John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

I dearly love this section of Scripture, and I’ve even written a short book based on verse 21, but I feel led to write on this verse right now. John wrote his Gospel quite a few years after the other three were already circulating among believers, and he clearly wanted to record things that the others hadn’t. The general outline of Jesus’ ministry is the same, but John fleshed it out a great deal, especially in the area of Jesus’ teaching. He clearly had to have the help of the Holy Spirit to do that, but as he recorded Jesus saying in the Upper Room Discourse, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) Here, John gives us his motivation for this major labor of love: bringing people to saving faith. Our over-arching goal and motive should be pleasing God, and nothing pleases Him more than leading people out of darkness into light, out of death into life. We need to realize that we don’t have to be Billy Graham to do that. He was certainly faithful with the gifts and opportunities he was given, but everyone has a different mix of gifts and opportunities, and we are only responsible for what we have been given. That said, we should use all we have been given to please our Creator, and nothing pleases Him more than our leading others into a vibrant, life-giving relationship with Him.

I have long been aware that my gifting is as a teacher, rather than specifically an evangelist, but my teaching is also to lead people closer to God. I’ve just retired from secular teaching, but even there my motive was to enable my students to be good stewards of the abilities they had been given. More directly, I’d say my calling is to lead people into true discipleship, rather than leaving them as people who agree with a set of facts but don’t apply them. I should be good at it, because I’ve had to struggle my whole life to apply the Word I know, and not deceive myself! (James 1:22) It is deeply satisfying to see that some of the people I have discipled are indeed going on to disciple others, and that is certainly the Biblical pattern. (2 Timothy 2:2) I have been slow to learn that, rather than my trying to do it all,  I am to “prepare (equip) God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:12) My studying Coaching over the past few years has been helpful in that. I need to keep learning how to get out of the way and allow those God has prepared to do the work He has been speaking through me. The better I do that, the more God’s truth will get out and the more people will repent and believe, for their eternal salvation and God’s glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all that You are doing in and through this church. We have the annual business meeting coming up in less than two weeks, and we will be discussing plans and dreams for the coming 12 months. Give us hearts that are tender to hear You, and to hear You through our brothers and sisters, so that we may move forward as You intend, in Your power on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!