Do you know the difference between a command and a suggestion? A suggestion is something that we might do, if we feel like it. A command is something we must do, whether we feel like it or not. When your boss tells you to have something done by 5:00, is that just a suggestion? When you tell your kids to clean their room, is that a command or suggestion? Is a notice to appear in court a suggestion? What about the words of Jesus?
Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 (emphasis mine)
Is this statement from Jesus merely a suggestion? Maybe it is just for those few who have been “called” to the mission field. Surely this isn't a command that Jesus meant for everyone, right? This passage in Matthew records Jesus' last words to his disciples. He commanded them to go and make more disciples. What if these disciples had said, “Um, thanks but I don't feel called?”
You and I are part of the Kingdom today because someone answered the call to “Go.” Somewhere you heard the good news that Jesus loves you and died to save you. I bet there's someone around us right now that needs to hear this same good news.
Jesus said to Go. Will you obey?
A huge, big time Amen to this Lisa. Just today we went out to go door to door with the Great Commission imperative command given by Jesus Christ 5 times in the New Testament. Its not the great suggestion indeed. Great work. We discovered today that some in our church town of Mulvane, KS, that its been over 25 YEARS since anyone came to knock on their doors. Some over 30 years. This is a town with over 13 churches in it. What is wrong with us today?! I think we are being disobedient by not going and staying comfortably numb as pew potatoes. I heard one pastor say that “No Christian grows more than when they consistently share the gospel with the lost”. Thank you SO much for writing this. This is truly my passion.