What's the Great Commandment?
One day an expert in the Law stood up to test Him.
“Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law? Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
(Luke 10:25-28)
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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)
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.
A disciple is someone who is committed to following a great leader, emulating his life and passing on his teachings. (Bible.org)
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.