No Greater Joy
The Beauty Of Walking Beside Someone
“I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my spiritual children are living their lives in the Truth.” 3 John 4
Walking Beside
One of the richest experiences in my life has been walking beside someone as they discover who they really are in Christ.
I hesitate to call it discipling anymore because that word can mean so many different things. For me, it has never been about getting someone to follow my path. It's about walking with them as they discover the freedom of knowing they are perfectly loved and begin living from that Love in the unique way God created them.
John calls it walking in the Truth.
Listening To Their Story
Walking beside someone usually begins by listening.
Everyone has a story, and I've learned that I can't love someone very well if I'm more interested in teaching them than knowing them.
Their joys, wounds, disappointments, dreams, and questions all become places where we can begin to recognize what Abba has been doing in their lives.
That also means sharing my story with them. Vulnerability creates a safe place where neither of us has to pretend we have everything together.
Helping Them See
Over time, the conversation keeps returning to Jesus and the beautiful reality of Christ within us through the Holy Spirit.
We talk about beloved identity, being hidden with Christ in God, and the freedom that comes when we stop trying to become someone God can love and awaken to how completely we are already loved.
Then we keep walking...
With mercy when someone stumbles, grace when the journey becomes difficult, and lots and lots of Love.
No Greater Joy
Eventually something beautiful happens. The person you have been walking beside begins walking confidently in the Truth for themselves.
They aren't becoming more like you. They are becoming more fully who Abba created them to be as the life of Jesus finds its own beautiful expression through theirs.
There really is no greater joy than watching someone discover they are deeply loved and then seeing them live free because they know it.
Reflection
Who has walked beside me and helped me recognize the Father's heart?
Who might Abba be inviting me to walk beside?
Am I helping people become more like me, or more free to live from Christ within them?
Prayer
Abba Father, thank You for those who have walked beside me. Let Your love in me help others discover the freedom of being completely loved by You. Amen.