"Go and make disciples......"
This part of scripture is also known as The Great Commission. As I began to study it became clear that it was going to be a very interesting morning.
Lord, I'm not sure why this thought was placed in my mind this morning but you do. Help me, as I study, to see what it is you want me to learn and what application looks like for my life. I rely on your leading. Amen.
So let's look at The Great Commission in context:
Jesus was getting ready to ascend to heaven so this passage is essentially giving the disciples their "marching orders".
"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 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.”
Matthew 28:16-20
“When they recognized him, it was natural that they worshipped him, but the whole experience was so mysterious and overwhelming that some doubted…The verb distazo does not denote a settled unbelief, but a state of uncertainty and hesitation.” (France)
I thought, for a long time, that walking with Jesus, in the flesh, must have been so much easier than walking in the Spirit as we do today. That a physical body to look at, to touch, to watch and to hear surely must have made faith easier, trust more abundant, courage and strength a given, obedience natural. No doubt, no uncertainty, no hesitation. ALL IN! What a silly notion. Faith in Jesus (seen) then, is no different than faith in Jesus (unseen) today.
I digress.....
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations....."
Disciple - a person who accepts and assists in the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ.
That is me! That is everyone who professes Jesus as Savior! It is a command. We are to DO IT!
"Make disciples reminds us that disciples are made. Disciples are not spontaneously created at conversion; they are the product of a process involving other believers. This making of disciples is the power of spreading Christianity." (EWC)
Disciples are not spontaneously created......it's a process.....Hmmmm
Not that I didn't realize it before today but even more so now......being a disciple of Jesus Christ is essential, imperative and commanded for those who have excepted Christ as their personal Savior.
So, I AM a disciple of Christ.....what does it look like in my day to day life? I went on a search to answer, "What does a disciple of Christ look like?" Here are a couple of answers I came across:
1. A disciple is a believer who follows Christ and then offers his own imitation of Christ as model for others to follow (Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1)
A disciple is first a believer who has exercised faith by baptism. (Acts 2:38).
2. It's a devotion to Christ FIRST, then devotion to his teaching because of an existing personal PASSIONATE devotion to the person of Christ. Surrender and dependence on Christ FIRST.
In some ways I was crushed by #2 and in other ways delivered to a deeper, much greater understanding.
Deep down, there is no one more miserable than the lukewarm Christian. They have too much of the world to be happy in Jesus, but too much of Jesus to be happy in the world. (EWC)
I don't want to be a lukewarm Christian. I want to be on fire for Christ!
I must FIRST have a personal PASSIONATE devotion to Christ! THEN devotion to his teaching BECAUSE OF the personal PASSIONATE relationship created by devotion to him FIRST!
When I retired last year I prayed, "Okay Lord use me! Here I am!! I'm ready to serve your kingdom!" I was excited! I was available! To this point doors to serve are being shut. I don't understand why......It's painful! My desires are GOOD things but not HIS plan for me. My things are not God's things. And after fighting it for months I now have a new understanding. I'm not resigned...I have not adopted a "whoa is me" attitude.....I'm not mad....I'm not discouraged.... perhaps resolved. When I look at my role as a disciple I realize that I have some work to do . Why? Because if my role as a disciple is to FIRST have a passionate, personal relationship with my Savior, I've fallen short. I don't think I'm there yet and to be a disciple, as I am commanded to be, I MUST BE passionately devoted to Christ FIRST. And the time I now have gives me the opportunity to cultivate that passion.
I need to embrace where I am. I don't know this but God may be preparing me for something OR maybe the whole purpose of this quieter life is to know him with passion, period. REALLY know him! And just maybe, knowing him passionately is what life is going to look like for my future and that has to be enough. It IS enough.
In allowing God to lead I have to remove my hand from the equation. Honestly, I don't want to orchestrate my own plans. I'm weary. I don't have a desire to make things happen. I'm depleted. The desire to serve the kingdom will always be what my heart wants...but it may look very different than what I see. And I'm really okay with that. There's so much peace in trusting that I'm not in control and that I don't have to be.
"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him. And he will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6
"And the peace that passes understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6
I've sufferd from "All IN" OR "ALL OUT" syndrome my entire life. Struggling to find balance is a common occurrence.
But, praise God! I can and should be be ALL IN for Him. No balance needed! How precious is that!!?