Kingdom Commitment – Day Five: Make Disciples

The commission calls for a commitment.

Some people want to go to heaven when they die. Some are captured by a vision of bliss and want that. Some enjoy the thought of eternal security.

The Kingdom of God stimulates in the hearts of the disciples of Christ a desire there to be more disciples of Christ. The Kingdom of God stirs in the hearts of the disciples of Christ a passion to see fellow disciples of Christ grow in being disciples.

Why?

Those who follow Jesus and love who He is and what He does see that He is all about the Kingdom. They see that He instructs those who love him to be about the Kingdom. The Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy should be the top pursuit of those who love Jesus. This reality leads us to repent of the actions and attitudes that oppose Jesus. This reality leads us to place trust in God to enable right relationship with Him. This reality immerses us further in the life of Christ by His Spirit. This reality opens us up to be filled by this same Spirit so we can follow in the way of Christ.

That reality then propels us to serve others and make the most of the opportunity to share the good news of this King and His Kingdom. We serve and we share for God’s sake. We share and we serve also in the hope that others will be drawn to the King and His Kingdom. That’s what we do not just in outward gestures to those yet to know Jesus. It’s what we do to challenge each other in the family, to stir each other in the family, so we can see that which is most glorious to God.

Interestingly, though, sometimes that element of Kingdom focus and the desire to make disciples is not presented as the compelling centre it should be. Sometimes the emphasis is on feeling good about yourself and trusting that god will sort you out for the areas that aren’t quite right. It’s like a deal where you sing a few love songs to Jesus and offer up some money and then you’ve done your good deed for the week before reverting back to a life little different to everyone else.

This is where, however, we are captured by a refreshing image of Jesus. Jesus the servant who came to serve. Jesus the Saviour who came and died and rose from the dead. Jesus the Risen One who intercedes on our behalf and gives us His Spirit. Jesus the teacher who should students what the Kingdom looks like and then left His followers with the commission. The disciples received that commission and filled with His Spirit went about making disciples.

That view of Jesus inspired His followers then. That view of Jesus inspires His followers to this day and as we see this view, so our focus is renewed and our desire is for disciples to be made. This is because:

The commission calls for the commitment.

(Photo by Oscar Ivan Esquivel Arteaga on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden