(By Dean Gray: CVM MD)
The problem I have when I get closer to God and venture out to do that great commission; is the target on my back gets bigger. (And what selling point is that to my mates?) Recently I’ve been wondering what actual benefits are we to gain in this life by accepting that a) Jesus died for us, and b) God loves us and has a better plan for us?
If I’m being honest, I want it to be easy to follow God and to focus on Him alone. But it’s not easy. When I am following Him, puny distractions always seem to come my way. And when I look back on these distractions, I see that they are like chaff, here today and gone tomorrow. The problem is that these distractions often prevent me from doing what I believe is right.
What I am learning more and more is that following Jesus will always mean enduring hardship. Though it seems topsy turvy to think like this, I cannot deny what I see in Scripture. And yes I’d like to see the hidden benefits within the great commission, but the verse just seems to be pretty straightforward. Matthew 28:19 Jesus said: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you to the very end of the age.”
So where does that leave us? My boiler still breaks down and affects my family, my washing machine packs up at the same time and I’m no longer thinking about the Great Commission, but I’m left wondering ‘why God?’
There are so many teachings on what it means to follow Jesus in the modern world leaving us with no choice but to revisit the original source more than ever.
Reading it aloud I can’t help but think that maybe the great commission is as selfless as it sounds. Maybe the whole thing is not about me at all, but about him. And even as I ponder this I recall how God provided me with a deposit for a house when I needed it, and how God provided me with a job when I needed it and how God provided a way to pay off all my debts when my business failed…when I needed it.
It’s funny how God doesn’t forget me in this adventure, which is quite simply all about him.
Deano.
