Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and low, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
So what comes to your mind when you think about Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations? Many read these words as if they were meant to inspire pastors and missionaries on their way out to the mission field. But have you ever considered that maybe Jesus’ command is meant for you?
I don’t know why, but I can’t help thinking about the command Jesus gave us here. He says for us to go make disciples, to baptize them and to teach them how to obey Him. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m doing evangelism this month. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m studying Matthew 28 right now, or maybe it’s that I’m reading Multiply by Francis Chan. Whatever it is, I cannot help but think about what it means to make disciples.
When I hear sermons on the Great Commission, most of the emphasis is to go and make disciples, to share the gospel. Being in a position where I get to witness to more than 15,000 people this month, I am frustrated with this. It’s not enough to share the Gospel. It’s not enough to have alter calls. When I leave, when my squad leaves, who is going to be there for these new believers? Who is going to teach them to obey?
Going classroom to classroom has been a growing experience for me. It takes effort and courage to step over that threshold every time. It takes strength that I do not have to share my testimony to these children to college aged people. But, what’s truly hard is witnessing to these people and sharing with them how to have the same freedom and salvation I have. It’s not the fact that I don’t want them to be saved, because that could not be more further from the truth. It’s the fact that in a matter of days I will be leaving them and only fulfilling part of Jesus’s command.
When we make the decision to commit our lives to Christ we are telling Him that we are giving our lives to Him for Him to use us as He will. I know for most of us, there’s always this question “What is my purpose in life?” That question has already been answered for us in the words Jesus gave in Matthew 28:19-20. This wasn’t a command just to those 12 disciples. It was a command to each and every person who dedicates their life to Him.
Yes, some are called to go overseas as missionaries and some are called to become pastors of a church, but for each and every one of us when we accept Christ we are given this command. Where we live becomes our mission field and it is our purpose to disciple those that are put in our life. Obviously, you may also be called to work full time in a 9-5 job, or maybe you’re a stay at home parent. No matter your vocation, you still have a responsibility in discipling people and sharing the Gospel of Christ.
My question in all of this for you is who are you currently pouring into? Who are you discipling and teaching how one lives a life honoring to God? I want to encourage that if you are not doing this to find someone. Find someone who doesn’t know God or just recently became saved. Disciple them. Show them truth and the promises that God gives us in His Word. Don’t just share the Gospel with people, disciple them in the ways that they should go.
Till Next Time,
Kara Faber
“Making disciples if far more than a program. It is the mission of our lives. It defines us. A disciple is a disciple maker” ~ Multiply by Francis Chan
