FBC Daily Devotions

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.

A ministry of reconciliation. Note how many times in the passage the word reconciliation or reconcile are used. It is the reason for Christ’s ministry to us and the reason for our ministry to others. In these few short verses, look over the passage more closely:

Who we were/are:
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What God did for us:
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Our ministry/message:
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As Christ’s new ambassadors, our ministry here is to reconcile others to God on His behalf. That is a high calling, but a privilege considering what He did for us.

To Consider
God took the initiative to redeem us from sin. As His ambassadors, are there those in your “Jerusalem”, “Judea”, etc. that you could initiate an appeal for reconciliation to God? Pray for boldness and wisdom to carry out that task as the Spirit leads.

Read Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 2:14-15.

In Day 2 of this week’s devotional, it was stated that the early disciples were commanded to make disciples everywhere they went. In today’s Acts passage, we see the extent to which they would make disciples. Beginning in Jerusalem, discipleship would occur in their home town. Later, it would stretch into the surrounding cities of Judea. Later still, disciplemaking would occur in areas that were beginning to get uncomfortable. The Samaritans were not well-liked. Tensions between the Jews and the Samaritans were high at the time. Making disciples in towns like this would certainly be a challenge for the early disciples from Jerusalem. And if that wasn’t enough, they would venture into lands that were completely foreign to them. Clearly, Jesus wanted discipleship to be a worldwide affair.

Let me make an observation here. In today’s passage, Jesus says that his disciples will be His witnesses essentially throughout the world. It is interesting that Jesus doesn’t command them to go to these uttermost places. He says “you will be my witnesses…” Some commentators have noted that Jesus was telling them what would happen, not telling what to do. Taken this way, everywhere they went, a testimony of Christ would be left behind. And to that the question must be raised: What kind of testimony would they leave?

To Consider
We are all witnesses of Christ everywhere we go. Our challenge is to leave the fragrance of Christ, and be a positive witness for Him. Consider what fragrance you are imparting wherever you go – your work, home, when you go out to dinner, when you meet strangers, etc.

If Jerusalem represented your home, what kind of witness are you there? If Judea represented your place of work, what kind of witness are you there? What represents your Samaria and ends of earth in your life?

Continuing yesterday’s thoughts, if you did not do yesterday’s devotional, consider doing it now; otherwise, read Matthew 28:16-20.

Making disciples involves helping people become stronger followers of Christ. So often, the idea of making disciples is seen purely as evangelism. But according to the Great Commission, making disciples includes at least two elements: baptizing and teaching. Baptism is the initial identification with Christ and His victory over sin (death of sin) and the resurrection to new life. Teaching includes not just an understanding of Jesus’ teachings, but also obedience. Baptism occurs at the front end of our new life in Christ and teaching continues from there on out. Many people do not see themselves at the front end of the process (i.e. evangelism), and most are not comfortable with that aspect of the Christian life. On the other hand, most people are involved in the teaching aspect of discipleship. That may sound unusual if we limit teaching to merely instruction. But teaching in Jesus’ mind was more than instruction. He lived the message as well in order to give a living example of his words. Jesus wants followers who are committed not in thought only, but in deed. Jesus said a fully trained student will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40). A disciple is a follower or learner who is devoted to personally reproducing the life of a mentor or teacher. He wants us to reproduce ourselves in others with Christ as the model. That is a calling that each of us is involved in.

To Consider
What are you reproducing in others as a part of the Family of God? It is a dangerous thing to realize that both our weaknesses and strengths can be reproduced in others by merely getting involved in people’s lives. What are you teaching others about Christ and helping others grow stronger in their relationship with Him?

Personal Thought
I think generally this is something most of you who are reading this from FBC understand these truths. In my early years of faith, I considered this passage to be about evangelism – delivering the gospel message to all the world. Certainly this is true. But later it became clear that making disciples was not only about sending disciples, but equipping them to be sent as well. I had come to understand that the Great Commission was not merely to “baptize”, but to “teach “. This changed the way I viewed my personal purpose in the kingdom. I realized that standing on the street corner preaching the gospel and handing out tracts was not necessary for me to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission. (Of course, there are some who do play that role.) There was great freedom in knowing the Great Commission is accomplished by a team of God’s people called the local church in which I could be free to use my gifts as He intended.

Read Matthew 28:16-20.

According to this passage, the Great Commission involves “going”, “making”, “baptizing”, and “teaching”. But the main (and only) command in the original Greek is to “make disciples”. The thrust of the command is more literally, “Therefore, having gone, make disciples of all the nations…” The implication is that we must go before we can make.

This command was given to the followers of the early church to spread the gospel. And as they ventured out into the various regions of the Middle East and beyond, they were called to make disciples. Everywhere they went they were to make disciples. That same mandate applies to us today not only as a church, but as individuals doing our part.

To Consider
Where will you go today? Where will you go this week? Depending on where that is (e.g. work or church, etc.), making disciples will take on different forms. We will consider those forms in the days to come. For today, however, consider your “go to” places and what it might look like to “make disciples” there.

What are some truths you learned from last Sunday’s message? How can it make a difference this week?