At the end of Samuel’s reign as judge over Israel, he gives me a tangible expression of reminder – my responsibility does not end at just stating truth – instead he goes further. He offers to pray, to disciple and to walk alongside them.

 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.  – 1 Samuel 12:23  ESV

So now I am interested.  Go back to the beginning of chapter twelve and find some more things that I may not have caught before.

He looks at himself as a disciple. He invites everyone to examine him, he reminds everyone that his family members live among them and that he has served them and the Lord since he was a young boy.

Then the later half of the chapter he has those other discipling statements that he makes. Do things God’s way, fear and obey as well as worship, not to turn away from God but instead worship with all your heart and lastly the promise that God will not abandon you.

It is a responsible position to be in when I come alongside someone else. Reminds a bit of why the issue in 1 Corinthians happened. The argument of whose disciple I am.

Paul had to come out very strong. He had to remind them that salvation only came through the crucified Christ who poured His blood as an atonement for us. His disciple only can you be for it is He who has bought us with His blood. Same as baptism. He was clear that he had founded no religion, had no authority on his own, he preached only Jesus crucified for the sin of the world. Paul’s task was simple enough – call on people everywhere to believe on Him.

My responsibility is to keep staying involved and to keep pointing others to Jesus.