Harvest Daily 06/11/04

Harvest Daily Devotional
by Pastor Greg Laurie

June 11
Making Disciples

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  (Matthew 26:19-20)

In Matthew 26:19-20, we find the "marching orders" from Jesus that we know as the Great Commission.  There are two things we should remember about it.  First, these words are a command.  That is why we call it the Great Commission and not the Great Suggestion.  Jesus did not say, "Look, if you are in the mood, if it works into your busy schedule, as a personal favor to Me, would you consider going into the world and making disciples?"  No.  In the original language, this is a command.

Second, these words were not only given to the original eleven disciples.  Nor were they exclusively for pastors, evangelists, and missionaries.  They are for every follower of Jesus Christ.  If we are His disciples, then we are commanded to go and make disciples of others.  It doesn't necessarily mean we need to cross the sea.  But certainly a good start would be crossing the street to talk to a neighbor.

What does it mean to make disciples?  Jesus said, "Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you."  Simply put, it means that you demonstrate discipleship for them by the way that you live.  And of course, you verbally communicate God's Word.

I want to challenge you today to become a disciple of Jesus Christ - not just a fair-weather follower or simply a churchgoing person.  Would you be His disciple?  If so, your life will never be the same.

Copyright (c) 2004 by Harvest Ministries.  All rights reserved.  Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright (c) 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.