Point #1 The Great Commission is NOT a suggestion – but a command
Point #2 You have a Message
Point #3 You have a Role
You are aware you have a message – yes? It can be called your witness or your testimony but it all means the same. And, there is no message too insignificant to be shared. The point is… you sharing. Quite honestly… I’m also somewhat convince that many of us have more than one message.
This ‘more’, in my world, is called sharing what you’ve learned, been taught by the Lord… at least your understanding. And yes, I think we have an obligation to share for a number of reasons – one is that we sometimes have faulty hearing and/or understanding. In these cases, unless we share we can’t refine our understanding (Proverbs 27:17). I have yet to see any spiritual matter that is one and done. Even salvation. Paul speaking in Philippians 2:12
“So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].”
The second reason is because none of us has all the insight, the truth, the understanding. Sharing allows us this opportunity to confirm, verify what it is we do believe. I also believe that sometimes WE need to hear what it is that we are saying.
So what is your message? It’s your testimony of being born again and what’s happened as you’ve grown as a Christian. When Jesus gave us His Great Commission, He also indicated what is contained in this. Obviously leading another person to realize their need for a savior and that the only one who fill and fulfills this role is Jesus. But the Commission also says the convert be baptized. And it says:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28: 19-20]
Your message becomes a medium to ‘make disciples’. As a new believer, consciously or not, the new convert does look to the one leading them to the Lord as to what to do, how to do it, etc. The person may also remember the one who planted the seed, or the one who watered as well as the one who harvested. But after accepting the Lord, all of we who count ourselves as His disciples need to help mature the new convert.
And part of this message is our behavior/actions. How we demonstrate who we are as Christians, followers of Jesus. A message (again, in my world) is never simply our words – though they are important – it also includes HOW we go about DOING what we believe.
