Day 3 - Week 84 - Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

The Great Commission...so what is it? 

"Go, therefore, making disciples of all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you."

1.  GO --- requires action.  We can't be isolated, we can't just be "comfortable Christians" going to church and Bible study and never getting outside of our circle of "safe" friends.  We must get out and GO...we may have to stretch ourselves a bit.  GO-ing may mean that we go to events that aren't customary for us; it may mean starting a conversation with someone that we think we have nothing in common with; it may mean really getting to know the people we work with.  GO-ing doesn't necessarily mean making a mission trip to a distant country...it may, if that is where God calls us...but it may mean just opening our eyes to where God wants us to GO tomorrow, even if it wasn't on our schedule...GO-ing may mean "GO-ing" out of our way, or "GO-ing" the extra mile.

2.  Make disciples --- testimony.  This is the hard part...this is the part where we have to rely on Jesus' promise of always being with us.  For we cannot make anyone a disciple on our own.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit within us, and the Holy Spirit at work in the other person.  We cannot convince anyone to accept the good news of Christ's saving work on the behalf of mankind.  It is only through the Holy Spirit prompting us at the right time, and us responding to the prompting to share with the person that the Holy Spirit is preparing to hear our words, that hearts can be open to the invitation to discipleship.  When this happens, we will share the wonderful gift of knowing that Jesus lived, died and rose again...all for us, so that we can know that we have forgiveness of our sins, and with that forgiveness the ability to be presented to God as His children.  As His children, we have a home prepared for us for eternity, a very certain future.

3.  Teaching them to observe everything that Jesus commanded.  The Great Commission doesn't end with just giving people the great news of Christ's forgiveness and our salvation...we are to teach what Jesus commanded.  Why?  If we are forgiven, and if we are saved, what else matters?  Can't we just leave our new convert with the Good News and call it "good"?  I think a lot of "discipleship" has ended there, without any subsequent teaching of what constitutes a true disciple of Christ.

What did Christ command of His disciples? 
John 13:34  "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
John 15:12 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
John 15:17 "This is my command: Love each other."

And as Paul summarized in Galatians 5:14, "The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

True Christian discipleship is an exhibition of God's love for people.  We must love others, sacrificially, as Christ did.  We must be ready to give up our comforts to show others that there is something more important to us than "us".  This is where Christ-followers truly become counter-cultural --- if we are following Christ, people are our treasure, materialism loses its power.

Go - share in the power of the Holy Spirit - teach...

...let's do it!  Empower us Lord Jesus to go out and share You!

Day 2 - Week 84 - Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

We attended a special Holiday Memorial Service at our church this evening, designed to comfort families who have lost loved ones through the year and who will be facing the holidays confronted with the sadness and emptiness that such loss brings.  We wondered if we could do it, if we could sit and hear our Michael's name called out, without breaking down into tears.  And we started not to go...but we did...and our daughter-in-law did, and our grandchildren did, and our other children did...and we all honored Michael with our presence and thanked God for the comfort that we received from those around us.

Was it difficult?  Yes.  But the songs, the prayers and, I think, most importantly, the hugs from those who pastor us and from others who are going through similar times of hurt and grief, made it a very good evening for all of us.  We left knowing that we are cared for, by God, and by God through people.  His love for us was truly felt.

I couldn't help but think, "You are always with us."  Even when we feel separated, even when we feel disconnected, God is with us....always.  Satan will try to tell us He is not....He is.  Satan will try to tell us that God is through with us....He isn't.  He is with us, always.

I need to hear this, and I thank God that He reminds me.  I need to feel this, and I thank God that He puts arms around me, arms of fellow Christians who are moving at His prompting to let me know, He loves us.

Our valley is deep, and it seems a long journey.  But I know He is walking with us.  And God is letting me know that He is never leaving, and that this journey will bring growth and insight.  I am praising Him in advance for what will come...maybe one of the lessons to be taught is that we are to always remember that He is with us, always. 

Hanging on to Him, He carries us through.

Quoting David Livingstone one more time,

"For would you like me to tell you what supported me through all the years of exile among people whose language I could not understand, and whose attitude toward me was often hostile?  It was this, 'Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.' On those words I staked everything, and they never failed."