Looking back on my life, I am forever grateful for the many godly men and women who have poured into my life. One person in particular comes to mind, Chad Pritchard, who led me to salvation in Christ at the age of 12 and discipled me for many years as well. As he continued to point me to Christ, including taking me on my first international mission trip to Santiago, Chile when I was 14 years old, he taught me several biblical truths and life principles. One of the most important life principles I have learned comes from him, and can be summed up in these four words: “It’s not about me.”
He shared these four words with me when I was in the early years of high school, at a time when I was more interested in my own desires than anything else. Not only did he share these four words with me (which at the time was loving…and needed…verbal slap-in-the-face), but he also prayed for me that I would recognize this truth and resonate with it in a way that would change my life for the better. He knew that although I was already a believer at that point, my journey toward becoming who God was calling me to be had only recently begun, and that this selfish tendency was keeping me from becoming like Christ, and prayer was the foundation for life-change to take place in my life.
But he didn’t stop with just sharing this truth with me. He didn’t stop by just praying for this truth to take root in my life. Chad also consistently pointed me to the Word of God that demonstrated this truth and allowed the Holy Spirit to use His Word to convict me and produce that life-change. One of the scriptures he shared with me that has become one of my favorite passages is Galatians 2:20 which says “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” If we have truly been crucified with Christ, life is no longer about us! Every aspect, every facet of who we are should be all about Him and making much of Him!
What a beautiful example of discipleship Chad demonstrated to me: boldly speak the truth in love; pray for that truth to take root, and support that truth with the Words of God. We all need discipleship like this in our lives, both on the receiving end and on the giving end. My hope is that my entire life long I will have people who disciple me in this way, and that I will disciple others around me in this way. I also hope that this is true in your life as well.
In Christ Alone,
Caleb Hecox