Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
— Matthew 28:19-20 —
Jonathan Moorhead: Czech Bible Institute | Czech Republic
What is the mission of the church, and by extension, what is your God-given mission in life? Some say it involves digging wells, building hospitals, fighting poverty, and protecting the environment. But Matthew 28:19–20 contains two imperatives that hold the answer: evangelize the lost and nurture the saints. Take a few moments to evaluate your faithfulness to the mission of the church and make a plan to reform your life where it is needed. While verse 19 emphasizes making disciples, or evangelism, verse 20 stresses the need for teaching the saints all that Jesus commands. It is important to note that discipleship is not to be restricted to pastors (2 Tim. 2:2), but is for every Christian. As Paul wrote, “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ” (Col. 1:28). Consequently, to be a Christian is to be a disciple, an intentional evangelist, and a deliberate discipler. There are no two classes of Christian; to be a disciple is to be a disciple-maker. Considering all Christians have this high calling of evangelistic and discipleship ministry, Jesus’ final words in our verse give encouragement to persevere and provide a weight of accountability. Remember, when Moses faced the might of Egypt, God said, “I will be with you” (Exod. 3:12). When Joshua faced battle, God said, “I will be with you” (Josh. 1:5). When Zerubbabel was faced with rebuilding the Temple, God said, “I am with you” (Hag. 2:4). Now to us, faced with a faithful life of evangelism and discipleship, Jesus says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Take a few moments to evaluate your faithfulness to the mission of the church and make a plan to reform your life where it is needed.
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