READY:
“What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” — 2 Timothy 2:2
SET:
In a relay race several factors are important but one of the most important is the handoff. At the Paris Olympic Games, the American Men’s 4x100 Relay team had talent and speed but at the end of the race they were disqualified. What happened? Despite an excellent first leg of the race, the handoff to the second leg was not made in the legal exchange zone.
Leadership expert, John Maxwell said, “If you run well, but are unable to pass the baton to another runner you lose the race.” The runners in the 4x100 relay had all they needed to be successful, but they did not handle the handoff. One of our primary goals as disciples of Jesus is to handoff what we have learned to others. Jesus makes that clear in Matthew 28:19, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” You have to handoff the baton – the Gospel, your experience with the Lord and how His words and ways have changed your life.
Paul highlights a generational passing down of the Word. Paul passed to Timothy all that he knew and learned. Timothy is now passing on (“commit to”) other faithful people who will in turn pass it on to others. That is the beauty of the Gospel and being a disciple of Jesus. We don’t keep what we have learned and experienced to ourselves. We hand it off to others.
Consider two questions:
Who are you discipling, investing time in? Run well by preparing others for the handoff.
Who discipled you? Remember who walked with you and taught you the ways and words of Jesus. Thank them for handing off such an eternally significant relationship.
A smooth handoff increases the odds for success – in competition and our faith journey. Are you ready?
GO:
If you are not currently discipling someone, pray that the Lord would show you who that person is and then walk in obedience and invite them into a discipleship relationship.
Who handed off the Gospel to you? What effect has that had on your life?
WORKOUT:
OVERTIME:
Lord, prepare me to handoff what You have given me. Show me who and when and help me walk in obedience with boldness. Grow the relationships in my life to be those that will have generational effects for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.