I’m confident to say that we as a World Race Jan ’08 squad have been blessed with amazing people to guide us as we embark on this pilgrimage. This morning one such person named Bob, our AIM contact that we’ve been working alongside with here in Peru, shared a few words with us. Bob talked about the idea of evangelism and sharing the gospel. He shared numerous passages about what it means to be a follower of Jesus and what it means to share the truths in the Christian faith. One of those such passages was “The Great Commission”.
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Now Bob shared an angle on this passage that I hadn’t thought of before. Sure I did an exegesis on The Great Commission in college, but today I saw it in a totally new light. In my little human mind I thought that this year was about going into the nations and sharing about Jesus and moving on to the next person to share Jesus with them. This would be accomplished through going door to door, handing out tracts, helping build houses, and other such means. I do not doubt this is still part of it, but not the only focus at all. In The Great Commission Jesus let’s it be known to His disciples, his followers, that He IS GOD. He HAS ALL AUTHORITY ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN. Enough of giving little hints, he right out proclaims it!
And so with all authority as God he commissions us to go the nations and make disciples. That’s right, disciples! Not just believers, but followers of Him. I’ve been guilty of watering it down when I share the gospel. I’ve made it sound easy to be a Christian. I have made it EASY to be a follower of Christ! Jesus wasn’t asking us to get people to believe in Him, he was asking us to GO and BE, to share what it means to be a follower of Jesus. He doesn’t want us to get people to say that little prayer and walk away feeling like we converted one more person on the list. I was that Christian that tried to find believers (when I had enough courage to do so of course), not followers.
Jesus goes on to say that we must baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything Jesus has commanded us. That’s quite the thought to me. Teaching everything Jesus has commanded me? I still feel broken, I still have insecurities, and I still feel inadequate. How can I share about Jesus when I feel these things? Yet Jesus continues to say that He is with me to the very end of the age! It is in His name the blind may see, the lame may walk, and the broken are restored. It is by Jesus’ name that I may go and do His will.
As cheesy as it may sound, the reality is that I was given my job description today. I am excited to have this new understanding as I go into the nations and share more about this God that I live my life for. Jesus’ blood has paid my price, why wouldn’t I want not only share that with others but also see them live the life of total faith and commitment to Jesus themselves. God created us to BE THE CHURCH, not just GO TO CHURCH! He has called us to not only believe, but also follow Him!! I’ve done that for way to long and now I’m ready to be a part of and embrace others in this family in Christ. The last 23 years of my life I have spent going to church and now I’m part of a church family that lives out of backpacks, travels to the nations to be with it’s hurting people, and is united with the One that has authority on earth and in heaven. I have been taught to ask the hard questions and isn’t it appropriate to encourage others to ask God those hard questions they also may have? It isn’t up to me to make someone believe or not. It’s up to me to share about Jesus and to demonstrate how to follow Him full heartedly and encourage others to continue to do so themselves.
I am a world racer and I have a job to do! You don’t have to be a world racer to get your job description. It is in Christ and Christ alone we are one in body. Are you a follower? or are you just a believer? Do you just go to church? or are part of the body of Christ? Jesus calls to much more than filling a pew. He calls us to go and live a life for Him. This means sharing that faith you have and demonstrating it to others as you encourage their walk with the Lord. So, are you taking Matthew 28 to heart and doing the job that Jesus has called you to?!
