Names of God: Through Thanksgiving & ChristmasSample

Jesus’ Great Commission given to the disciples and hence to all believers in Him is to make disciples of all we encounter. Believers are commanded to go and make disciples. Go… not to wait until the lost come to us. Go… not to judge whether they are worthy or not. Go… not to make them earn our willingness. Make disciples… not just more church members. Make disciples… not moral citizens. Make disciples… not religious rule-followers. To follow Jesus’ commission requires sacrifice on a believer’s part. The believer must seek out people. They must leave their comfort zones. They must temporarily leave the safety of the multitude of believers to seek the lost. Believers risk refusal, rejection, and ridicule. Making disciples involves a sacrifice of time and energy. Teaching and growing new believers in the things of God requires patience, grace, mercy, and continued growth. While every believer has a great calling, we also have a great promise… the promise of Jesus’ presence with us always until the end of the age. Every believer has been given this great call. Not just some. Not just pastors or religious leaders. But all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord have been given the mission, the authority, and the responsibility to go and make disciples.

What, if anything, is keeping you from following Jesus’ Great Commission? Is it the going…leaving your comfort zone, risking rejection? Is it the making of disciples… the sacrifice of your time, the required patience and grace, or your lack of biblical knowledge? Are you doubting the promise and presence of God that you are equipped to do just as He called? Will you ask God to give You everything that You need to reach and love people on His behalf?

Father God, I thank You for Your continued presence in my life. I thank You for the honor and privilege of this high calling, because it keeps me close to You. I thank You for the people that You used to lead me to salvation and teach me Your Word. Lord, I pray that I am given even more opportunities to speak about You to the lost and to share Your love for them without fear, doubt, or hesitation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.