Recently my granddaughter underwent scoliosis surgery. As I was going through videos of the surgery, which is amazing in itself, I learned that adolescent scoliosis surgery is even more amazing. In teen and adult surgeries, two titanium rods are placed along the perimeters of the spine to align the spine. However, adolescent surgery covers a much more amazing process. The rods have hydraulic lifts. As the child grows, the surgeons place a machine that looks much like a remote-controlled car transformer on the patient’s back to activate the hydraulic extension expanding the titanium rods to continue to brace the spine. They no longer need to have additional surgeries to account for growth and replacing the original titanium rods.

You may ask why I am sharing this technology with you. I am currently studying the Book of John. Jesus is nearing the end of life on earth and will soon return to His spiritual realm, heaven. John shares how Jesus prepared the disciples for His departure. He taught and loved His disciples who would continue His work on earth. Throughout the three- and one-half years Jesus spent with the disciples they received training and their faith shifted from focusing on the visible to the invisible, from thinking in practical terms to a spiritual understanding.

God stretched the disciples as He does us today. As we deepen our understanding of God’s word and application, He too uses a form of hydraulics. Jesus is the transformer forever ensuring that we grow and are erect. With each lesson, each study, each evaluative look at our past, He grows us. Our growth produces a deepened state of understanding. Our minds and souls mature and our relationship with God becomes increasingly fruitful.

Jesus referred to the disciples as my children, or in Greek, little children. When Jesus departed, He invested the responsibility of being disciples to each of us, His children.

The last command Jesus gave the eleven disciples finalized their preparation to carry on His work after He ascended to heaven. “A new command, I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 14:34-35.

To further explain this scripture, The Charles Stanley, Principals Bible lesson reads: “The method Jesus gave us to preach His message to the world is through love. The world knows we are his disciples, not through correct doctrine, or big buildings, but through our love for one another.” (John 13:35, pp. 1557, Life Lesson)

We must choose to become disciples. We must allow God to stretch our belief and understanding of how His work applies to our lives. This may feel uncomfortable, as I am certain a titanium rod corrects one’s spine during growth, but it is necessary if we genuinely want to disciple others and point them to Christ. It is through the agape love for others, Christ-like love, which draws others to say, there is something different about you, what is it? This is the opening to discipleship, to share how accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior changed your life.

Scripture: Biblegateway.com

Images: google.com; testifygod.com