And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ (Matthew 28:18-20)

Final Instructions.

Possibly one of the most discussed and memorized texts in the Bible is (Matthew 28:18-20). Known as "the great commission". Jesus is giving final instructions to His disciples before ascending to heaven. These are the last words they will hear from Him. We do well to commit ourselves to this commission and not only memorize it!

Commanded to "Go".

First off, Jesus has authority over all things; therefore, He must be obeyed. There is no other authority in heaven or earth greater. With that, He first states, "Go". This implies one could stay where they are, but it is not what The Lord wants for them. Go means leaving where you are and arriving at another destination. 

These men had already left home and loved ones to follow Jesus. They are familiar with the cost of the request. In His absence they are to do no less than what He commands and had demonstrated. We must guard against complacency if we will be used to share the good news of the Gospel! Jesus was sent, He sent His first disciples to share all they had heard from Him. 

Believers in Jesus today are not an exception. Jesus taught the disciples that losing their lives for His sake was to find it. The same remains true for all who belong to Christ for all time.

The making of disciples.

Next, they have a specific occupation wherever they go and that is to "make disciples". The phrase is spot on! Jesus is telling them to do something far different than making cold-hearted theologians. Jesus did not want them to make students alone, but followers who are attached to Christ and live like Jesus! Another way of saying it is that true disciple take Jesus' life as the pattern for their own. 

The Gospel changes lives.

This tells us that the Gospel changes lives and is more than the cerebral collection of information. One author is clear when he defines the phrase as follows: ""Mathēteuō" (teaching) means not only to learn, but to become attached to one's teacher and to become his follower in doctrine and conduct of life. It is really not sufficient to translate this verb as "learn" but as "making a disciple" and must be distinguished from the word mathéō which simply means "to learn" without any attachment to the teacher who teaches." - Spiros Zodihattes

Mere mental and verbal assent to religious traditions and trappings does not make a disciple. The disciple is one who knows and gladly submits to Christ's teachings because they are joined to Christ Himself!

He is with you, always!

Therefore, go out into the world understanding your day is set and being navigated by the Lord. Arrive at God's destination (e.g. work, play, etc.) and simply give away and model what Jesus has given you!

Trust in the Lord.

I leave you with this... "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6).