Going Out

Sunday at church, we wrapped up our disciple series.

If you knew the moment you would die and could gather all of your loved ones one last time, what would you say? What you said would probably be purposeful and the things you treasure would come out.......you'd probably say encouraging, challenging words that you hope would take your loved ones to the next level. Jesus had that chance. He knew He was about to die and He gathered His loved ones and in Matthew 28:19, He said, "Go and make disciples."

The word "go" meant in its original context to travel, depart, take a journey. It meant to move from where you are to where you want to be. A disciple of Jesus goes out. In our culture, in our churches, what are we usually about? We want to get people here and we do anything to get them here. Success in the local church means lots of money coming in and lots of people at church. Maybe instead, we should send the church out.

Matthew 10:5 says that "these twelve Jesus sent out." The words "sent out" meant to set apart, to send out on a mission. Jesus is saying there's a mission I have for you, should you choose to accept it. There's a big difference in the way we think of missions. A Christian goes on a mission trip. A disciple is a missionary. A disciple may take a mission trip, but that's just a reflection of who they are, which is a "sent one".

A sent one makes the message simple. "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of Heaven is near.'" Matthew 10:7 Jesus is simply saying, go and tell people about me. In Matthew 10:19-20, He says don't worry about what you're going to say, just go and I will give you the words to say. We don't like that, because we're used to planning everything. We like to be in control. But, if you step out in faith to go and tell others, you will find that you are able to communicate in ways that you just aren't capable of and then you will know that it was the spirit of God doing the communicating!

If your problem is disobedience, the only plan of action is obedience. In the story of the blind man, he communicated simply, "I was blind and now I see." As you go, remember the man behind the mission. You will have to decide if you will follow Him; not if you believe in Him, but will you FOLLOW him. Is it worth it?

Religion won't motivate you to go.

Morality won't motivate you to go.

But, when you consider the Man and what He's done on your behalf, it might motivate you to go.
When someone gives their life for you, how does that motivate you?