Discipleship – Never Give Up (1)

During the cell-leader-ordination banquet on 31st March, Pastor Joshua asked if anyone ever kept pets, if any went through the death of pets and if anyone decides never to keep pets after the death of previous pets. For example, we had kept a dog as pet but it went missing. Feeling guilty, we decide not to keep a dog ever again. Perhaps our beloved dog passes away and we decide not to keep any dog. Some responded, “When my dog passed away, I was too grieved to ever have a dog again because it hurt very much.” It is not that they do not like dog anymore, but they are afraid to face the pain of bereavement again.

Keeping pets resembles much of discipleship. After being hurt in discipleship, some cell leaders decide to give up on discipleship altogether. In other cases, the few cell members of theirs left them one by one. Despondent, they choose not to disciple anymore to avoid being hurt or discouraged again. However, we should never make decision based on fear or evasion. Regardless of our life situation or what decision to make, whenever we make decision out of fear or evasion, it will not be a right decision because it is a decision made not of faith or truth. Before Pastor Joshua makes any decision, he always asks himself, “Is this a decision in faith, or a decision made out of pessimism and fear? In faith, we make decision, ignoring the real-life situation which makes one fearful, wanting to run away. All decisions made of evasion and fear is not pleasing to God. How may our decision be pleasing to God? We should always go for the maximum and choose the situation leading to the best results. (To be continued…..).•