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 28:19-20)
After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and gave them what we refer to as “The Great Commission.” In this commission, He instructed His followers that they were to go and make disciples. It’s here that the English language fails in its translation of the Greek because the word translated as “go” really means “as you are going.”
Jesus’ message was that, as we are going in life, we need to be witnesses for Him and to share His message with those with whom we come into contact. The message wasn’t just for the eleven disciples who were left (Judas had hanged himself); it was and is for all of us. Our goal is to make more disciples. The word used doesn’t mean simply “converts;” it means “disciples,” which are followers or students.
If you are a follower of Christ, then you have a high calling! You don’t simply exist for you and for your own spiritual journey. You have been given a responsibility to share your faith with other people in your life; you are not to keep things to yourself but to share them with others and to encourage them to grow into followers and students of Jesus, too.
Father, thank You for the high calling You have given us to both be disciples of Jesus and to make disciples of Jesus. As we go about our lives, will You give us the wisdom and courage to begin helping others to become followers, too? Give us eyes to see those who are ready to receive, and then give us courage to share what we have been given.
Leave a Reply