In disciple making a balloon’s tie is personal vision. While most disciple makers focus only on the “air” of building heart and developing skill, vision is the tie that keeps both from dissipating into the thin air of ineffectiveness.

Vision is the ability to see what God could accomplish through a disciple who is surrendered to God and His plan for her. Such vision motivates, sustains, and builds resilience. When personal vision is missing, so too, is a disciple’s initiative towards God and especially others.

The tie of personal vision is so important, that I begin developing it from the start. I let him know that while I care about him, I’m not discipling him simply for his benefit. This is not mentoring. I’m investing in him because I care about those he will disciple in the future. Such straight-forward communication may not be your style, but finding a way to set his sights on the goal is essential if you expect him to become a mature reproducing disciple.

This concept isn’t mine, it’s God’s. In Genesis 12, He told Abraham to leave country, people, and family, but then immediately after told him that He’d make him into a great nation, and that all would be blessed through him. We see God do this repeatedly throughout the Old Testament, including to Isaac (Gen. 26:2-6), and Jacob (Gen. 28:13-15).

Jesus focused on the tie when He invited His disciples to follow Him. To His first disciples He said, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) Mark notes that He designated Twelve as apostles that they would be “with him and that He might send them out to preach” (Mark 3:14). When Paul recounts the words Ananias spoke to him from God they also included the tie, “…You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.” (Acts 22:15)

Living in a culture of consumerism means that failing to tie in personal vision normally leads a disciple to believe that discipling is all about him, rather than about what God wants to do in and through him. If such a disciple produces fruit, it will be ornamental fruit—fruit that’s designed for others look at, but not for reproduction.