The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Pride
You will never fully grasp the heart and scope of Jesus Christ’s charge until you allow Christ to expose the hidden and visible pride in your life. The most honorable thing a believer can do, besides experience martyrdom, is sharing the gospel. We should rejoice in the fact that God, being sovereign, invites us to bring back the lost sheep of the world. If you look at the scope of verse 19, Christ clearly stated “all nations.” In the book of Mark 16:15, Jesus said to preach the gospel to every creature. How does this relate to pride you may ask? There are no barriers, exemptions, or exclusions in His charge. Therefore, gender, class, race, sex, or handicaps of all types are of no importance to the savior. Thus, it should behoove any believer that harboring any sort of hidden dislike for any group is abominable to God. This is where some Christians get half of the heart of God wrong. For example, you see believers protesting abortion clinics while tripping over the homeless. We give to the poor in other countries, but won’t help a single mother on food stamps. We rejoice when an alcoholic or drug addict is redeemed. However when a murderer professes his repentance and salvation, we scoff and doubt his sincerity. For that reason, pride has no place in the process of salvation. You will end up sharing the gospel out of requirement, and not out of worship. It will become a burdensome task, and not a joyful honor. Take this time to reflect. Ask God to expose your heart. Is there any hidden resentment towards people? Does your heart cringe at the fact that someone is on welfare, or does your heart ache at the hopelessness of their situation? Do you get angry when you see homeless men walk into a liquor store, or do yearn to hear the angels rejoice when they accept the Father? Do you share the gospel to drug lords and gangs but refuse to share it with your own family because of some past hurt? These things are seen by the Lord. Ask Him to expose the danger of pride before you enlist in his army of redemption.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Pride
You will never fully grasp the heart and scope of Jesus Christ’s charge until you allow Christ to expose the hidden and visible pride in your life. The most honorable thing a believer can do, besides experience martyrdom, is sharing the gospel. We should rejoice in the fact that God, being sovereign, invites us to bring back the lost sheep of the world. If you look at the scope of verse 19, Christ clearly stated “all nations.” In the book of Mark 16:15, Jesus said to preach the gospel to every creature. How does this relate to pride you may ask? There are no barriers, exemptions, or exclusions in His charge. Therefore, gender, class, race, sex, or handicaps of all types are of no importance to the savior. Thus, it should behoove any believer that harboring any sort of hidden dislike for any group is abominable to God. This is where some Christians get half of the heart of God wrong. For example, you see believers protesting abortion clinics while tripping over the homeless. We give to the poor in other countries, but won’t help a single mother on food stamps. We rejoice when an alcoholic or drug addict is redeemed. However when a murderer professes his repentance and salvation, we scoff and doubt his sincerity. For that reason, pride has no place in the process of salvation. You will end up sharing the gospel out of requirement, and not out of worship. It will become a burdensome task, and not a joyful honor. Take this time to reflect. Ask God to expose your heart. Is there any hidden resentment towards people? Does your heart cringe at the fact that someone is on welfare, or does your heart ache at the hopelessness of their situation? Do you get angry when you see homeless men walk into a liquor store, or do yearn to hear the angels rejoice when they accept the Father? Do you share the gospel to drug lords and gangs but refuse to share it with your own family because of some past hurt? These things are seen by the Lord. Ask Him to expose the danger of pride before you enlist in his army of redemption.
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