The great commission: Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV bold mine)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you've probably heard of the great commission. I grew up hearing it preached from the pulpit. "Go and tell everyone!" So why did I grow up confused about these orders from Jesus himself?
I felt under-qualified!
I knew my life was a light to others (well I hoped it was), but actually leading someone to salvation - okay that's where the nerves kicked in (insert scrunched up face and fingernail biting!) What would I say to an unsaved person? How would I pray for them? What if I forgot something?????
God showed me something amazing this year. He used a new friend in my Bible study to teach me the simplicity of salvation. You see, she had gone forward at a Baptist camp when she was 11 or 12 and accepted Christ as her Savior, but the years had allowed her to drift away.
Being part of our Bible study catapulted her back into the Lords arms. But now she was asking me, (insert scrunched up face and nail biting!) "Am I really saved?"
SOS!!! HELP LORD!
Immediately God had me quote (as best I could) Romans 10:9-10, If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
I realized for the first time how simple salvation really was. No magic prayer, no right or wrong words. Just a belief followed by a confession.
It was a precious time of conversation, and we concluded she was indeed saved, but a re-dedication was in order. The very next Bible study, she stood up in front of 150 ladies and confessed that Jesus was Lord of her life!
We all applauded and I cried! These were tears of joy and excitement, not only because my friend had declared her salvation, but because God showed me the simplicity of the great commission!
I've had an opportunity to share this knowledge with one other lady who also needed to confess with her mouth Jesus is Lord! WOW, the sky is the limit now!
Here I am, Lord send me!!!!!
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