Go ye therefore, and teach (disciple) all nations.
— Matthew 28:19
Jesus Christ did not say – Go and save souls (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God), but – “Go and teach,” i.e., disciple, “all nations,” and you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples came back from their first mission they were filled with joy because the devils were subject to them, and Jesus said – Don’t rejoice in successful service; the great secret of joy is that you are rightly related to Me. The great essential of the missionary is that he remains true to the call of God, and realizes that his one purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus. There is a passion for souls that does not spring from God, but from the desire to make converts to our point of view.
The challenge to the missionary does not come on the line that people are difficult to get saved, that backsliders are difficult to reclaim, that there is a wadge of callous indifference; but along the line of his own personal relationship to Jesus Christ. “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” Our Lord puts that question steadily, it faces us in every individual case we meet. The one great challenge is
– Do I know my Risen Lord? Do I know the power of His indwelling Spirit? Am I wise enough in God’s sight, and foolish enough according to the world, to bank on what Jesus Christ has said, or am I abandoning the great supernatural position, which is the only call for a missionary, viz., bound less confidence in Christ Jesus? If I take up any other method I depart altogether from the methods laid down by Our Lord – “All power is given unto Me . . , therefore go ye.”
On this day...
- The Common Root of Unbelief in the Brothers of Jesus and the Jewish Crowds - 2011
- Abortion and the Narrow Way That Leads to Life - 2011
- Our Deepest Prayer: Hallowed Be Your Name - 2011
- Bible Writers History - 2009
- Fanatic Genius - 2009
- Charles Spurgeon - 2009
- Where did God come from? - 2009
- Esther 10:3 - 2008
- Leviticus 19:36 - 2008
- John 12:2 - 2008
Am I wise enough in God’s sight, and foolish enough according to the world, to bank on what Jesus Christ has said, or am I abandoning the great supernatural position, which is the only call for a missionary, viz., bound less confidence in Christ Jesus?
October 20, 2010