In 2013, we were preparing for a trip to Peru, and my Porter Family Reunion was held in Kentucky about a month before we were scheduled to leave.

After sharing for a few minutes about our upcoming trip, my 90 year old uncle, Roy Porter, came up to me and placed a $5 bill in my hand, and said to me, "Take this and buy a Bible for one of them fellers over there."

I assured him I would be glad to, and tucked the money away.  I purchased a Spanish Bible, and inside the cover, I wrote a note that this Bible was a gift from Roy Porter of Globe, KY.  I packed it in my bag, all the time praying that God would direct me to the person who was intended to have it.

​That Bible remained in my bag every single day of the trip, and I never felt led to give it to anyone until the very last day.  On that day, we went to a village and visited a Yagua tribe.  As I sat talking with the chief of the tribe, God whispered in my heart, "This is the man."

I took the Bible out of my bag and handed it to him, telling him that this was a gift from my uncle Roy.  I told him that he was 90 years old and lived in Kentucky and he was a man of God and wanted me to give this Bible to him.

The chief looked at me in disbelief.  He asked, "For me?"
"Yes. It is a gift.", I said.  He smiled, posed for a picture, then took the Bible, carefully wrapped it in some material, and placed it in a grass bag to protect it.  

Soon, many Yaguas were gathered around asking for a Bible.  I told them I only had one, but when I returned, I would bring Bibles for everyone.

Uncle Roy passed away a week later, without ever knowing what an impact his $5 gift would have on a community, a world away from Appalachia.

The next September, I told the story of Uncle Roy's Bible at our Family Reunion.  I shared these pictures with my family, and asked them to be part of Uncle Roy's Legacy.  One by one, they came and put $5 bills in my hand.  

​When we got on the plane for Peru in October, I carried two cases full of Bibles from the Porter Family to the Yagua Tribe.

When we arrived at their village, we gathered in the school, and began taking Bibles out of suitcases and placing them in stacks on the tables.  Everyone in the village came to see what was taking place.  I shared with the whole tribe the story of Uncle Roy's Bible and how my family had purchased these Bibles so that they could have the Word of God.

They were thrilled to have Bibles, and Pastor Manuel, one of the pastors in the village, said that it was spiritual food.  He said, they were so hungry for the Word of God and "Without it, we can not live." 

A year later when we returned to the village, they gave us gifts and thanked us again for bringing God's Word to their tribe.  We are hoping to have the opportunity to return and begin teaching evangelism and discipleship in the near future.

And that... is how $5 changed a village!

I have heard these "Two Greats" my whole life, and never before that moment did I see how totally intertwined they are!  In fact, they are two sides of the same coin!

Let's examine that...

So the Great Commission says, basically, 'Love God with everything in you.'  He's first, He's the priority, He's the Lover of your soul. Love Him. Know Him intimately.

Then... Love your Neighbor.

How do you express love for someone?  By giving them the best that you have?  What's the best thing you have?  See above... an intimate relationship with God.

How do you give someone an intimate relationship with God? Well, you start by introducing them to Him (a.k.a. sharing the Gospel, evangelizing).  Hopefully, they will see how you have changed since you began to Love God with everything in you, and they want what you have.

What's Next?  Notice Jesus didn't say in the Great Commission, "Go and Make Converts." That's not enough.  Saying the "magic words" are not what Jesus requires of us.  Praying the sinners prayer at the end of a compelling sermon is the beginning, not the end.  

What did He say?  GO and MAKE DISCIPLES.  Ahhhhhh. So what's a Disciple?

Well, in Jesus' time, there were many teachers, philosophers, and great thinkers.  These were the white haired men who wore long white robes and sat around in Greece asking hard questions and answering them and challenging one another's premises.

Socrates had disciples.  Aristotle had disciples.  Pythagoras (the guy with the theorem you learned in high school) had disciples.  A bunch of other guys you probably never heard of had disciples.  Everybody knew what a disciple was.  

So... are you a disciple of Jesus?  Do you follow Him? Do you imitate him?  Are you passing on His teachings to others?  LOOK, it's right there at the end of the Great Commission... "​teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Something to think about...

• Are "the greats" suggestions or commands?
• How do you think the Church, as a whole, is doing with "the greats"?
• How is your church doing with "the greats"?
• How are you personally doing with "the greats"?

Father God, thank you for Your Word.  Thank you for teaching me.  Give me a passion to love You with all that is in me, and to love others enough to want them to know You the way I do.  Help me to recognize my responsibility as Your disciple - to follow You, imitate You, and pass on Your teachings.  Make me a world changer.  
​In Jesus' name, Amen.