What Is The Call ?
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Yesterday’s devotional, entitled, “Who Are The Called,” dealt with the issue of those who are called, and concluded that all believers are called to make disciples; and some of the called — the pastors — play coordinating roles among those who are called; to equip the other believers for the work of ministry, and to edify the church.
What then is the call? Let us read Matthew 28:18-20, and analyze.
READ Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18-20 NRSV)
I will break this into three parts:
- Statement of Authority
- Commission & Command
- Help Provided
Our focus is on “Commission and Command,” covered in vv. 19 – 20.
- Go and make disciples of all nations.
- Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
- Teach them to obey everything that Jesus has commanded you.
Three things: Go, Baptize and Teach.
If we all obey this simple rule, backed with Love for God, and for our neighbor; and go about them the way Jesus would; we will not have all the confusion we have in the church today!
So, some go to specific places, and others go to other places; and because of that, some feel they are doing the work better than others, and that becomes a point of contention. Others also meet at the same place and begin to contend with one another.
The questions are:
- Is it the same Christ that has sent all of us to go? If He is, then we are trying to achieve the same purpose; and that one purpose should stimulate, instead of stymie, our synergies and progress!
- Is it the same Christ that sent us to baptize? If He is, then once we are baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we are on course to achieve the same purpose!
- Is it the same Christ that sent us to teach? If He is, then once we are teaching them to obey everything that Christ has commanded us, we are together, trying to achieve Christ’s purpose of establishing God’s kingdom on earth!
Often, we allow “the way things should be done” to come in the way of “what should be done,” and totally block progress!
Jesus is interested in people becoming His true disciples (followers), and not how, or which denomination made them become His disciples. Jesus is interested in the new disciples being baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and not how that is achieved. Jesus is interested in the people being taught to obey everything that He had commanded; and not how that is done. Jesus is more interested in the result than the process!
Often, we focus so much on the process — sometimes unconsciously, but most times dictated by other interests than Christ’s — that we miss the results.
If we are all obeying the same call, then the process should not divide us; rather, our common result should unite us.
The call is simple: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything that Christ has commanded us.
That is the call; and anyone who has and pursues this call, is a follower of Christ, and our brother.
MEMORY VERSE
“Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
QUESTIONS
- Have you gotten confused about what the call of Christ is, because of all the traditions?
- Do you know that the call to all believers is very simple: to make disciples, baptize them and teach them?
PRAYER TIP
Father, please help us to understand
Your call; so that we will not allow
traditions to sway us from your purpose.
URGENT CALL
By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!
But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer”
for guidance if you want
to make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.
God richly bless you.
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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