October 27, 2011

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . —Matthew 28:19

Jesus Christ did not say, “Go and save souls” (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God), but He said, “Go . . . make disciples of all the nations . . . .” Yet you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples returned from their first mission, they were filled with joy because even the demons were subject to them. But Jesus said, in effect, “Don’t rejoice in successful service— the great secret of joy is that you have the right relationship with Me” (see Luke 10:17-20). The missionary’s great essential is remaining true to the call of God, and realizing that his one and only purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus. Remember that there is a passion for souls that does not come from God, but from our desire to make converts to our point of view.

The challenge to the missionary does not come from the fact that people are difficult to bring to salvation, that backsliders are difficult to reclaim, or that there is a barrier of callous indifference. No, the challenge comes from the perspective of the missionary’s own personal relationship with Jesus Christ— “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28). Our Lord unwaveringly asks us that question, and it confronts us in every individual situation we encounter. The one great challenge to us is— do I know my risen Lord? Do I know the power of His indwelling Spirit? Am I wise enough in God’s sight, but foolish enough according to the wisdom of the world, to trust in what Jesus Christ has said? Or am I abandoning the great supernatural position of limitless confidence in Christ Jesus, which is really God’s only call for a missionary? If I follow any other method, I depart altogether from the methods prescribed by our Lord— “All authority has been given to Me . . . . Gotherefore. . .” (Matthew 28:18-19).

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October 27, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, the more I read and understand about your grace and love, the less and less I see of it in the institutional church. Instead of accepting your righteousness, we try to find it in our activities and works. We aren’t led to grace, holiness and love and then works out of love, we are often led to works out of obligation and guilt, from the church or well-intentioned brothers and sisters. What are we to do when we find works, obligation and guilt being offered up instead of your grace and love?

And God says…”Let Me live through you and respond in love. Love conquers all things. If I am living through you, others will respond. And be very careful trying to explain or evangelize grace and love. It can be threatening to those that have built their lives on their own righteousness. Simply let Me shine through and love will prevail.  Stay in the church, and let the gospel of grace and love simply shine through your life. Spread the good news of freedom, grace and love without words….let My life in you speak volumes.”

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