Jesus is very clear about who and what we are called to do and be. From that we can also discern what we are not to do and be. In Matthew, Jesus speaks to live His commission to His people. It is more than an evangelistic mission statement it is specific instructions as to who we are called to be and what we are told to do.
One of the most common conversations I have with new Christians are around how they are supposed to behave and what they are supposed to do. They want a list of rules, do’s and do not’s. There is a propensity to overcomplicate Christianity with big words and long diatribes that cause more confusion than clarity. Christianity is simple to understand, the difficulty is in the living. Thankfully we don’t have to do it on our own, in fact we can’t! Jesus knew this which is why He did what He did by dying for us, and then sending His Spirit to live within us to help.
Simply, we are called to be His people, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 4:17) Also, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) We are called by His name, Christians, and we demonstrate our acceptance of that call by loving all His people. That should be our distinguishing characteristic.
Being called is not a command but a summons. We can decide for ourselves whether to respond. If my parents call me by my name and I chose not to answer, there may be consequences for that decision. Living a life without Christ is an unfathomable existence void of hope, peace, and joy. Why would anyone choose to live that kind of life? Still, there are those that choose not to listen. They choose to ignore the call and live for themselves in a world that will devour them. Responding to this call is by no means easy, living it out is even harder. Living out the call of a Christian means following the commands He has given, regardless of the cost to ourselves. Then we take His Commission to the world…a world that hates Him and therefore hates us.
When Jesus gave His Commission to the disciples, it was not for them alone. If it was just for them and not for the rest of us, why share it? Why include it in scripture? The disciples were mortal and could only do so much evangelism in their lifetime. If it was just for them world evangelism would have ended with John. But at the end of His Commission Jesus tells the disciples to teach them (whoever they have gone to and discipled and baptized) everything I have commanded you. This would include what He just told them to do. The Great Commission, as we have come to call it, was for everyone who was called by His name, “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 was speaking to each one of us who are called by His name. If you claim to be a Christian then the best way for you to demonstrate your distinctiveness is by loving His people; so, go…make disciples of ALL nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…teach them to obey everything He has commanded us. This is who we are called to be and what we are told to do.
We do what He calls us to do and teach what He taught us to teach. We can search scripture to create lists of how we should behave, what we should and should not say and do. We can become as pharisaical as the religious leaders of Jesus day. When we do that, we are missing the point. We respond to His call, we follow the Greatest Commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) The way we do this is by Doing what He called us to do and Teaching what He commanded us to teach.
We respond to His summons, we love Him, and those He puts in front of us, we do what He commanded us, and Teach others to do the same. Respond, Love, Do and Teach. This is the core of being a Christ follower. The ins and outs of how we do that may vary by person, community, culture, and language.
Please help me share the good news of Jesus and how He can change your life, and our world!
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