Matthew 28:18-20 (The Message)
Go out and train every one you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the three-fold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I commanded you. I‘ll be with you as you do this, day after day, right up to the end of the age.
How very fitting that the first LifeTogether of the new year deals with “going out” and “making disciples.” Reaching out to others is usually high on the New Year’s Resolutions of Christians (just below losing weight and right above daily quiet time). However, we fumble the spiritual football quicker than any offense meeting SEC competition. Our failure doesn't stem from the game plan. We plan ways to reach out, encourage, train, and teach others. And those plans are good! But as many a team can attest, all the planning in the world amounts to nothing if you don’t execute the plan. So how do put the plan into action on a consistent basis? To explain, allow me share another story…
A friend and I were discussing discipleship, reaching out, and other related topics on the “Spiritual Gift Survey” we were given at church. (Let this be a gentle, timely reminder to complete it and turn it in!) On one question, it asked something along the lines of, “Are you willing to do anything to spread the Gospel to others who have never heard it?” My aforementioned friend shared that, as horrible as it sounded and he felt bad about it, if he answered honestly, he would have to say, “no.” Ashamed, I agreed. The good news is we don’t have to go to the ends of the world to share the Gospel (at least not this second, unless you've been called to that, in which case you need to get busy). Quite simply, all we must do is “go out” around here. Easy to talk about certainly; more difficult to put into action.
You want action, hold on! Here we go. If we’re to make disciples, we must first “go out” and get them. Jesus says, “Go out to the highways and byways and compel them to come in!” Most people, especially these days, aren't going to just pop up in church. It's up to us to invite them in, show them the love of Christ, and live a worthy example in front of them. Once they see us “in action,” they’ll want the Life-Change for themselves. Only then can we begin guiding them in the Way. If our desire is to capture the purpose and vision of Refuge, we must urgently start putting one foot in front of the other and put our faith into action. James, the brother of Jesus, said, “Faith without works is dead.” Permit me to put that in Refuge-speak:
“Shut up the talk, begin the walk!”
