Christ’s Great Commission is not a scrap of paper, blown to our feet from centuries ago. It is Jesus, standing in the midst of His Church forever, saying, “Go … I am with you always.”
Suppose Jesus said it to you personally – would you take more notice of it?
Just imagine that you had a vision of the Lord in your church, like John experienced on Patmos. Suppose that Jesus spoke to everybody, saying, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature … and these signs will follow those who believe” (Mark 16:15,17). What would you do?
Would you continue living with a business as usual attitude? Or would you press on more urgently to witness for Christ?
If anyone wonders whether the Great Commission is relevant today, they may as well ask if plowing and harvesting are relevant, or if getting out of bed is!
Relevant is not the word. The task is urgent. It is supposed to be our existence.
A Christian is a witness. The term “Christian” developed because it easily identified believers – they were the people who always talked about Christ.
The Christian’s business is not busyness, but witness. Witnessing is the commerce of the people of the kingdom of God.
The written commands of Christ in Scripture are just as immediate and imperative as if He had spoken to us personally in a vision.
The Great Commission is “our baby,” and our work in this task is not optional. The Lord does not ask, “Would you mind helping Me? I would like to invite you.” He says:
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. (John 15:16)
Suppose Jesus said it to you personally – would you take more notice of it?
Just imagine that you had a vision of the Lord in your church, like John experienced on Patmos. Suppose that Jesus spoke to everybody, saying, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature … and these signs will follow those who believe” (Mark 16:15,17). What would you do?
Would you continue living with a business as usual attitude? Or would you press on more urgently to witness for Christ?
If anyone wonders whether the Great Commission is relevant today, they may as well ask if plowing and harvesting are relevant, or if getting out of bed is!
Relevant is not the word. The task is urgent. It is supposed to be our existence.
A Christian is a witness. The term “Christian” developed because it easily identified believers – they were the people who always talked about Christ.
The Christian’s business is not busyness, but witness. Witnessing is the commerce of the people of the kingdom of God.
The written commands of Christ in Scripture are just as immediate and imperative as if He had spoken to us personally in a vision.
The Great Commission is “our baby,” and our work in this task is not optional. The Lord does not ask, “Would you mind helping Me? I would like to invite you.” He says:
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. (John 15:16)
