Training Dogs and Disciples

“Look toward the school up on top of the hill.  What is the first thing that catches your eye?”  These were the first words my grandfather spoke as he broke his silence since leaving the woods after a morning of squirrel hunting.  He was disappointed because we didn’t have much luck.  “The first thing that you probably notice is the white LP tank.  White sticks out so don’t ever wear a white shirt when we go hunting again,” he continued.  The shirt I was wearing wasn’t white.  It was a tan shirt that he had actually given me, but it was a very light color.  I learned a valuable lesson that day.    

I have always enjoyed hunting but have never really been very good at it.  Perhaps it is because I get more caught up in enjoying nature and watching everything rather than being attentive to the actual hunt.  I had the opportunity to do some bird hunting the last few days.  This time I was not hunting with my grandfather but my great uncle who is in his 80s.  My uncle has spent his life, as long as I have known him, dedicated to preaching the gospel and bird dogs.

We did not have any luck hunting birds this past week. What we did get to see was his hunting dogs doing what they have been bred and trained to do.  Those dogs never gave up.  They worked hard and did not seem to get discouraged that they were not finding anything.  The more I watched, the more I admired their performance.  Every now and then my uncle would blow his whistle, and they would come running back to check in.  I watched as he would throw up a hand signal, and there was no doubt they understood what he was communicating.  

Watching the dogs work was just as much enjoyment for me as having a successful hunt.  I recognize that it takes a lot of time, work, and dedication to get the dogs to that point.  Good hunting dogs do not happen by accident or even by good genetics.  Someone has to take the time to teach and train them.  

Our walk with the LORD is very similar.  We do not become good disciples of Christ by chance or by accident.  Someone has to be willing to teach and train us.  Those individuals must also be committed to watching us work and correcting us when we make mistakes.  My great uncle has also played a big role in teaching and training me as a disciple and minister.  A lot of the conversations we had on our hunts were about leading a church and serving the LORD.  

I am thankful for his training.  However, I also realize that the goal of any good teacher is not only to help the student learn but to also help the student become a teacher himself.  Disciples of Christ are given the task of making more disciples.  This process must be undertaken with intention.  Let us all ask ourselves these two questions as we pursue the Great Commision of making disciples:  Who am I allowing to teach and train me?  Who am I intentionally teaching and training?

Pastor Shawn