The Great Commission: Our Divine Mission

Have you ever wondered about your purpose in life? What if I told you that as believers, we have a clear mission given to us by Jesus Christ himself? This mission, known as the Great Commission, is not just a suggestion but a divine mandate that shapes our very existence as followers of Christ.

At its core, our purpose is beautifully simple yet profoundly impactful: to love God and to love people. This summation of Matthew 22 encapsulates the heart of Christian living. But how do we live this out in practical terms? That's where the Great Commission comes into play.
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n Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus provides us with a clear directive:
"All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…"
This passage outlines four key actions: go, make, baptize, and teach. Let's break these down:

1. Go: This isn't about scheduling a specific time for evangelism. It's about living our lives with intentionality, always ready to share the hope within us. As we go about our daily routines, we're called to be ambassadors for Christ.

2. Make disciples: We're not just called to convert people; we're called to make disciples - followers of Christ who embody His teachings and reflect His character.

3. Baptize: This symbolic act represents a public declaration of faith and a commitment to living a new life in Christ.

4. Teach: Importantly, we're called to teach obedience to Christ's commands, not just knowledge of them. It's about transformation, not just information.
But here's the crucial part: this commission isn't just for pastors or missionaries. It's for every believer. We've all been given this sacred task. And the beautiful thing is, we're not left to do it in our own strength. Jesus promises us the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this mission.

Now, you might be thinking, "This sounds great, but what does a disciple actually look like?" The Apostle Paul gives us a clear picture in Galatians 5. He contrasts the works of the flesh (things like adultery, hatred, jealousy, and selfish ambitions) with the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control).
As disciples, we're called to walk in the Spirit, exhibiting these fruits in our daily lives. It's not about perfection - even Paul struggled with doing the things he didn't want to do (Romans 7). But it is about progression, about allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us more and more into the image of Christ.

This transformation isn't just for our own benefit. It's so that we can effectively carry out our mission of making disciples. People should see something different in us - a love, joy, and peace that doesn't make sense in light of our circumstances. This is what attracts others to Christ.

But here's a sobering thought: many of us have become comfortable with a watered-down version of Christianity. We've "hired out the ministry," leaving it to the professionals. We've settled for knowing Bible verses without living them out. We've confused praying a prayer or getting baptized with true discipleship.

True discipleship is a lifelong journey of obedience and transformation. It's not about checking boxes or completing a class. It's about daily dying to self and living for Christ. It's about allowing the Holy Spirit to infuse every part of our being, just as a white cloth takes on the color it's dunked in.

This journey isn't always easy. We'll face opposition, both from within ourselves and from the world around us. But remember, we go in the authority of Jesus Christ. When people reject our message, they're not rejecting us - they're rejecting Him. And He has given us everything we need for this mission through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, what does this mean for us practically? It means we need to be intentional about our faith. It means looking for opportunities to share the hope within us, whether that's through a formal invitation to church or a simple act of kindness. It means involving our children in ministry from a young age, teaching them to live out their faith. It means never retiring from God's kingdom work, regardless of our age.

Most importantly, it means allowing God's Word and Spirit to transform us from the inside out. It's not enough to know the fruit of the Spirit - we must live it out. We must be known for our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

As we embark on this mission, let's remember that we're not alone. We have the power of the Holy Spirit within us, enabling us to do what we could never do in our own strength. We have a community of believers to encourage and support us. And we have the promise of Jesus himself: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

So, let's embrace our divine mission with passion and purpose. Let's go forth as disciples who make disciples, teaching obedience to all that Christ has commanded. Let's allow the Holy Spirit to transform us more and more into the image of Christ. And let's live in such a way that the world can't help but notice the difference Christ has made in our lives.
The Great Commission is not just a command - it's an invitation to participate in God's grand plan for humanity. Will you accept the challenge?