The Assignment!

The Assignment!

Matthew 28:19 AMP

[19] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Jesus had come to the end of the earthly phase of His ministry. He had spent time developing character in the lives of chosen men, and it was time for them to pass on the lessons to other people. Jesus had laid down a different way of doing things. Recall His first Sermon on the Mount, where He laid out higher standards than the people had seen or heard before, ranging from anger and revenge, to even love for other people. This is the first lesson for me: life is in phases. I must seek God's help to understand the seasons and times He brings me through, so that I can know what is required of me per time. There is nothing as dangerous as doing the right time at the wrong time. From the perspective of God, it has to be His time, not mine. The second lesson for me is this: I do not have forever on this side of eternity to do what God requires of me. 

As Jesus stood there with the men who had walked with Him for three and a half years, He gave them the assignment that is laid out in the verse above. Judas Iscariot was not there, even though he had seen the mighty miracles of Jesus, and had even been sent out by Jesus to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. Being in the company of those who know God is not enough; knowing the words alone is not enough. There is a very fundamental need for me to go deeper in my walk with God, in order to understand His demand, and also trust His supply to enable me discharge my responsibilities under His demand. The verse above is directed at just disciples, not church goers or bible readers. How can a man make disciples of other people if he is not one already? How can a man show another the way to a place or an experience that he has not even undergone? 

The assignment is simple: go and replicate the standard in the lives of other people. You have now known me; go and introduce me to other people too. I note that making disciples is a task that takes time, effort and resources, but I am comforted with the fact that the One who calls and sends out does not leave us without the requisite help for the task ahead. He does not commission without making the requisite provision that is appropriate for the need. There is also no limit to the scope of the assignment. The earth is the platform for the assignment; souls are the focus, and eternal life with God the reward. The message is about Christ, not me. I point men in the direction of the Christ who is able to save and deliver, just as He did me. The baptism is the public declaration of the private confirmation of the change that only Christ can bring. Now we know what He expects; am I a disciple who can be trusted with this assignment? Are you? God's time of favour is here.