The Great Commission
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about sanctification: the first way we can respond to all that God has given us and the work He has done in our lives.
In this chapter, we are moving on to the second response of every legendary man of God: sharing the Gospel with others.
Why should we share the Gospel with others?
Well, for starters, Jesus told us to do it.
In fact, they were Jesus’ final words before He ascended into Heaven.
I am a big believer in final words. The last words a person speaks are often what they feel is important. Final words often show the heart of a man. The same is true of Jesus. His last words revealed His heart for mankind to be saved. He told His disciples, then and now, that it was our responsibility to make it happen. 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV)
The Message Version says it this way:
“God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
This is the last command Jesus gave before going to Heaven with His Father: make disciples.
Win the lost.
Teach/Mentor them in My ways.
This is called the Great Commission.
Think about it: this is what Jesus felt was the most important thing to tell the disciples before He left them. They were His final thoughts. They were what He chose to emphasize. He said what He meant, and He meant what He said!
This is our calling. It is time we rise and answer the call. We must take Jesus’ words seriously and put them into action! It is critical. It is urgent. We MUST do it.
We can’t keep delaying fulfilling the Great Commission. We can’t keep letting the cares of the world and the time restraints of our lives cause us to abandon the call to reach the lost.
We can’t keep being so consumed with our own lives and our struggles that we neglect to reach the lost and hurting around us. Too often in Christianity, we make it all about ourselves.
What can God do for me?
Why isn’t He helping me?
Why am I struggling?
What do I need in my life?
But our salvation, while important and necessary, is not all about us! We should come to Christ, allow Him to change our lives, and then use this newfound hope and freedom to help another hurting person gain this same freedom.
THAT is what the Christian life is all about.
That is fulfilling the Great Commission.
Memory Verse: 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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