Go into all the world
Go. go. GO. No matter how you slice it, God asks us in Matthew 28:19 to go and make. Action is the core of the great commandment. Reflecting, visioning and planning all have an important place in our life, but it all comes down to execution. God does not want us sitting idly by waiting for the world to come to us. Rather we are to be a healthy mix of action and reflection.
posted by Todd Nelson at 1/21/2005 06:56:00 PM
3 Comments:
God doesn't "ask us" as you put it. He commands us to go and obey as verse 20 then clearly states. We should not be afraid to do this if we have a changed heart and are with Christ; because He is with us. Those who sit idly by are missing an opportunity of a life time. Or I should say, of saving a life for eternity.
Good point about what we are missing out on by sitting on the sidelines. Too many people like to implement the guilt card to get Christ followers off the sidelines, but we are really missing out on so much of what God has planned for us by not serving this purpose.
As to the "ask" verus "command" language, I believe we are both on the same page in regards to followers. For those who consider themselves Christ followers, Jesus wanted to make it clear that if they were to fulfill their purpose on earth, they HAD to do this. But I am not sure that we revoke free will in this instance. We can reject God's plan for our life and choose to live at a level well below what we have been called. And in this sense, isn't all that God requires of us done on an invitational basis? God invites us to become an effective tool in His hands. And if we so choose, then we MUST do certain things (i.e. go and make disciples, love God with our whole heart, love one another, etc.)
Thanks for the feedback and I am praying that you and I will both be obedient to all that God is calling us to be, do, and become.
Todd
I understand your point. Thanks for your comment back.
Just because we are Christians that doesn't mean we don't have free will anymore, we certainly do. But unfortunately we even need to be reminded of Who's in charge.
Christians need to be forceful in Gods Word and not sugar coat it. In Matt. 28 God is not asking us to do Him a favor here. The Great Commission is telling us :
"Therefore go...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
So no matter how you slice it we are EXPECTED to "GO". I think we can mutually agree to that word. :) Amen, JLS
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