Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and 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.”
Devotional: Yesterday, we talked about how living a life for God is not just a laundry list of things to do. It is also about our heart and the way in which we live for Him. But today, we are actually going to take a look at a command that was given to us that is all about doing. “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” (Matthew 28:19-20). This is called the Great Commission. Jesus gives this command to His disciples after His resurrection when He is back on earth for a while.
This command also applies to us. But what exactly does the Great Commission mean? It means that we are to share the good news of Jesus with other people. We are to teach them about Jesus and His commands, and we are to encourage them to be baptized when they have placed their trust in Him. And in turn, the Great Commission then also applies to them. This is how we fulfill the part about making disciples of all nations. One person alone cannot reach all of the nations. Rather, all of us working together to share about Jesus with those we encounter can. Even if you feel like your impact is only in your local community, you never know where that impact will carry outside of you.
We are to make the most of where God has put us. This can be sharing the good news of the Gospel with someone who has never heard it before. It may be answering questions from someone who is in the seeking phase. It may be continually loving on someone who has experienced loss or pain until they are willing to open up to the idea of God again. There are so many ways to do this, and God has uniquely gifted you to impact the people in your life for Him. When you share Jesus in your everyday life and teach people about His commands, you are making disciples for Him. Let’s keep sharing the hope of Jesus and make heaven crowded.
Reflect:
- Have you ever thought about what the Great Commission means for you?
- Who are some people that you can share Jesus with or answer questions for?