The Discipleship PathwaySample

Pathway Step One: Discover

When I was a police officer, my uniform included a very tall hat. Why? So that I was easy for people to spot if they needed to ask for directions or help.

In today’s passage from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, Jesus says that our lives are meant to be the same—easy for people to spot. We are to stand out from the crowd, shining like a light that guides those who are lost or hurt back to God.

Who might need to see your light? What if you pray today and ask God to help you make a relational map of people who are connected to you right now—a list of friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues.

When you make that list, you might notice that there are two types of people on it: those who are actively looking for God and those who are not. In Matthew 13, Jesus describes both kinds of people in a pair of one-line parables. The seekers are represented by a merchant who is actively looking for valuable pearls. The others are represented by a man who stumbles upon priceless treasure hidden in a field.

What’s true for both is that the treasure they DISCOVER—the kingdom of God—is so valuable they make great sacrifices to obtain it for themselves.

What a powerful reminder! That’s what is at stake for the people in our lives who are far from God. We possess a priceless treasure they desperately want to DISCOVER. And the best part is that when we appreciate its value, it appreciates in value. The treasure grows when we give it away to others!

Following the Discipleship Pathway will help you shine for others. And when they’ve spotted you in the crowd, what a priceless treasure you can give them—the good news about Jesus.