“So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.”
The Few
Paul names something worth taking seriously here, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, genuine investment described as exceeding merely information transferred, extending to actual, personal cost, Paul’s own soul genuinely, willingly given alongside whatever message was taught.
This second movement, turning from this book’s exploration of chosen relationship toward the actual, costly practice of investment, opens with this crucial standard. Genuine discipleship is not information transfer alone. It is willingness to impart your own soul, actual, personal cost willingly offered alongside whatever content is taught.
Notice because ye were dear unto us, the specific reason given for this willingness, not obligation or professional duty, but genuine affection, worth examining against however much your own investment in others has remained primarily informational, correct content delivered without this deeper, costlier, affectionate willingness.
Whoever you are currently discipling, examine today whether your investment has remained primarily informational, or whether it genuinely includes this deeper willingness, your own soul, actual personal cost, offered because they are genuinely dear to you, not merely because teaching them is a duty or task to complete.
Pour Into the Few
- Examine whether your own investment in others has remained primarily informational rather than personal.
- Consider what imparting your own soul, not merely information, might actually require of you today.
- Let genuine affection, not merely obligation, motivate one specific act of investment today.
Prayer
Lord, let me impart not merely information, but my own soul, to whoever I disciple, because they are genuinely dear to me, not merely because teaching them is a duty. Amen.
Carry this today
Genuine discipleship imparts your own soul, not merely information transferred.