Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus spoke these words after the resurrection, and it is often called the Great Commission. This was not simply a suggestion; it was a command. Those who follow Jesus, those who believe, those who are disciples of Christ whether they lived in the first century or now, are commanded to share His powerful message with all. There are many churches and people who concentrate more on the gifts of the Holy Spirit rather than on the Great Commission. In 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 it tells us the Holy Spirit gives the gifts of healing, of miracles, of tongues and prophesy (to name a few) and He alone decides which gift each person should have. These gifts had a purpose then as they do today, they were used to build up, to strengthen, to encourage, to bring unity, to develop growth in order to serve the Kingdom work fully. They were not intended to be our primary focus. These gifts are to glorify God and for the benefit of the entire church, not just the individual. These gifts are wonderful, they are powerful, but they should not be our primary focus. Our primary focus is, and should always be, making disciples, sharing the Good News. Because how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? (Romans 10:14) And how will they hear about Him unless we tell them? I admit it is not always easy to share the Word, there are those who would like us to be silent and we will be hated by some just as Christ was. But did someone tell you about the Gospel? Maybe it was your parents, your grandparents, a neighbor, a friend, a co-worker or even a total stranger; point is if that person had not shared with you the knowledge and love that they have for the Father, you would not have had the opportunity for salvation. You would remain in darkness but now you are overcome with the Light. Our work does not end with simply telling them about Christ or in baptizing them, we must also teach them. You do not hand a child a book and say, “Read this, it will tell you all you need to know”. You must first teach them to read and help them to comprehend what they are reading. Only with teaching can we learn to understand, to grow and to develop our skills more fully. And as we are learning we begin to have a deeper understanding, a deeper love, and a deeper relationship with the Father. If you want a child to obey you, you must first expand their understanding, and this comes not only through teaching but also by setting a good example for them. And when you come across those who are resistant to hearing the Gospel, pray for them and take comfort in Jesus words, “And be sure of this; I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Until next time may God bless you and bring peace to your heart.