Thursday, September 21, 2023

Listen to the Word

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 28:18-20)

Jesus instructs his followers to make disciples while going. He doesn’t say, “Let them come, and make them my disciples.” He tells us to go. Many churches practice what might be called “Y’all come” evangelism – we hope lost people will wander in on a Sunday and hear about Jesus and turn to him. And, praise God, sometimes they do. But Jesus didn’t instruct us to wait for that. He told us to be proactive in going to those who need him.

If you want to do some deer hunting, you don’t sit in your recliner and hope a deer will wander into your living room. You have to make a trip to the woods. If you want to catch some fish, you don’t leave the boat in your driveway and cast out your line from there – that approach may be more convenient for you, but it isn’t very effective. You have to go where the fish are!

Jesus wants us to go – to go to our neighborhoods and offices and schools and ballparks and everywhere else where there are people who are far from him. He wants us to take the initiative to go to all kinds of people and encourage them to follow him.

Live the Word

Think of someone you know who needs to experience the love of Christ. Take a moment to pray for them, and ask God to help you to be sensitive to opportunities to point them to him.