"Go Therefore and Make Disciples"
One of the greatest sections on the work of discipleship, on discipleship in action, is found in Matthew 28:18-20. Read over the verses. Look at all the verbs there: go, make, baptize, teach (NKJV). Disciples should be making more disciples. It is as simple as that.
Read through the verses again, focusing on what Jesus said in the beginning, about all authority (or power) being given to Him in heaven and in earth (see Luke 1:32; Acts 10:36; Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:13). Why are those words so important for all who are involved in the work of making disciples?
Notice, too, what Jesus says is involved in this work. They are to teach all nations. No exclusivity here, no ethnic, gender, or national boundaries. The death of Christ was for all humanity, everywhere (Rom. 5:17-19, Heb. 2:9); hence, it only makes sense that the gospel commission would be for all humanity, as well (Rev. 14:6, 7).
Notice carefully that Jesus tells them to teach all nations. Where is His emphasis?
Again, as we can see, discipleship is action. Those who become disciples are those who obey, who do the things that Jesus commanded. With these words, Jesus utterly destroys any notion that salvation is purely an intellectual assent to certain doctrinal truths. Though that is certainly part of what it means to be a disciple, it does not end there. Disciples are those who follow Jesus, and we follow Jesus by obeying Him—and we obey Him, not in order to be saved, but because we already are saved, in Him.
Jesus' promise is that He will be with us until the end of the world. How have you experienced in your own life the reality of that promise? Dwell on the evidences of Christ's presence with you. Write and/or recite a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for what Jesus has done and is doing in your life.
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