At the point of his baptism, Jesus heard the words, ‘This is my son with whom I am well pleased’ (Luke.3.21-23). From his baptism, Jesus had a clear understanding of who he was, and the love from the father that was poured out upon him, and he lived the rest of his life in this knowledge. People around him were impacted by how he lived his life out, and through his understanding of who he was; people’s lives were transformed all around him.
I wonder whether we, at this moment in time, have a challenge to recognise fully, completely who we are in the eyes of the father, in the same way Jesus did, and live lives according to that. Many young people will want to imitate the great communicators and the funny people up front, as attention is drawn to them, but wouldn’t it be great if young people were drawn to those who saw lives being changed, who saw healings taking place, who saw all sorts of ways that God was at work in people’s lives. Maybe what we should be demonstrating to young people around us is a lifestyle of knowing who we are in God.
When Saul meets Jesus in Acts 9.1-6 he was impacted by an encounter that led him to know how much he was loved, forgiven, and valued. Again, he lived out his life in the knowledge of all of these things, and saw many people’s lives transformed around him.
Do we look more for the youth leader who has the best qualifications and ability to talk, as opposed to the leader who through the testimony of their life shows that they have that deep covenant relationship with the Father that means that lives around them are impacted? Jesus said in John.10:10 that he came to ‘bring life in all its fullness, but do we actually believe that? Do we live our lives believing that Jesus wants to give us life in all its fullness?
If we draw out leaders who show the qualities of knowing their father’s love, living that out, believing that Jesus really does bring life in all its fullness, then we might actually see the start in the revolution that Martin called for. And we would certainly see a discipleship worth imitating for young people! But if we don’t release those leaders, then we are giving our young people nothing of discipleship to imitate for the future.
I for one want to be someone who starts to recognise his sonship in Christ, and lives a life according to that, and see young people’s lives around me transformed, and released into radical disciples. Who else is up for this revolution?
Andy wilson is the Director of RolltheRock a charity based in Harrogate North Yorkshire, seeking to release young people in all that God has for them, and developing a network of missional discipling youth leaders.
