In Search Of A Better Tomorrow

Friday, October 21

Time Alone With God Daily Devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout, JAXNAZ Church

Read: Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19-20

New International Version (NIV)

19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Start

Consider: “Go and make disciples” (28:19). We call this “The Great Commission.”

There are other expressions for it as well. We often talk about “evangelizing” others. The root word in the original language of the New Testament is euangel, which simply means “good news.” It is also translated as “gospel” in our English Bibles. So any time you read the word “gospel” in the New Testament, remember it really means good news.

But over the years evangelizing has come on hard times. I believe the reason is that the word has become too narrow. When some people think of evangelizing, they think of proselytizing or recruiting. They reduce The Great Commission to convincing someone to say a prayer or make a decision. But Jesus didn’t say, “Go and make decisions.” He said, “Go and make disciples.”

A disciple is more than a believer. A disciple is a follower and a learner. A disciple is one who emulates the life of the master. A disciple is one who does the work of the master with the master.

Jesus made disciples by calling them, teaching them, living with them, correcting them, ministering with them and, most of all, loving them. He didn’t simply ask them to repeat a prayer. He said, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19).

And we are called to make disciples in the same way. We humbly follow the master. We allow him to conform us to his image (Romans 8:29) so that we can say to others…

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Pray: “Lord, use my life, my heart and my passion in such a way that others can see Christ in me. I pray that as I follow you, others will be drawn to the journey.”