Go and make DISCIPLES…
Imagine that day on a hill in Judea. There stood Jesus, having come to earth an
d been all that His Father had expected Him to be, done all that the Father had asked Him to do and was poised triumphantly on the threshold of a victorious homecoming. On that the dawn of so important an era as the world had never seen, Jesus neither spoke in painful details as to overwhelm His still feeble-minded followers nor did He slip away without explanation of His intent. Jesus spoke with such clear and far reaching words in that brief moment that we, 2000+ years later, still strive for the goal of seeing the Good News proclaimed to the nations and ultimately His return. Listen to His words, hear his heart…
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in Earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” |
Those words still ring in the hearts of those who are His disciples, they give life and meaning to the time we still have here on this earth. We must notice a few things about His Great Commission:
- Jesus spoke in no uncertain terms about the task that He was leaving us to do. Go and preach, baptize and teach as my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
- The details for implementing His plan were a little sketchy. He wasn’t inviting us to take part in a visitation or outreach program. He was (and still is) requesting that our relationship with Him would be so dynamic that it impacts every part of our being and everyone we come in contact with.
- He called us all to action. I believe that He still calls softly today for each of us to step out with Him in His power and take Good News with us as we are going. This Great Commission doesn’t just involve a few Christian leaders but all Christians. It is with that heart that the Lord’s small voice directs us to equip each member for the ministry, to cast the vision and to offer opportunities for all to fulfill this Great Commission work as the Body of Christ matures (Eph.4:11-12).
Is His vision for the world clear to you?
Do you have a plan for involvement in the Great Commission?
What is God calling you to do to see this work accomplished?