Train them to leave

​“To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/tit.1.4-5.NASB1995

I find these verses at odds with how we feel, in America, with the offspring we raise both physically and spiritually. When we have trained up our children we often want to hang on to them, but the true raising happens when we let them go into the world to accomplish their God-given destiny.

Paul considered Titus a true child in the faith in Jesus. But yet he has left him in Crete. Paul knew hanging on to His children would be a great disservice to them, himself, and God. Often they would end up back with Paul and give a report and then be set back out. I believe he was doing the same thing Jesus did with His disciples.

“And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/mrk.3.14-15.NASB1995

The twelve were first appointed to be with Jesus then he sent them out to preach. Jesus and Paul knew the importance of instruction and life lessons first and then sending them out on their own last. A person must have some discipleship under their belt before they can disciple others (see 2 Timothy 3:2-7). 

Paul did not just do this with Titus, but also with Timothy.

“As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/1ti.1.3.NASB1995

Silas

“Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭15‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/act.17.15.NASB1995

Aquila and Priscilla

“Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow. They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/act.18.19.NASB1995

And I am sure he had others.

So discipleship is not training to remain, but training to go out and preach Jesus while living.

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.4.11-12.NASB1995

Our churches are also built to do the same thing. We are to be equipping our fellow pew sitters to go and do the work of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers!

What are we doing to accomplish this? Have we received some kind of discipleship? If not, then we better find someone to teach us how to live the Christian life! If yes, then are we finding someone to disciple? From the door greater to the preacher our command is to be a witness, preach Jesus and make disciples. Everything beyond that is time investing in God’s kingdom!

“Go therefore and make disciples!”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭19‬a NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.28.19.NASB1995