by Adam White
“When they saw him, they worshiped him - but some of them still doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:17-20).
We read this scripture in Matthew 28 and understand that this is the great commission to every believer; this is the evangelical response to every person who tries to excuse their lack of evangelistic activity by saying “well I’m not an evangelist.” We are all commanded to do the work of an evangelist but as is so often the case, it simply doesn’t happen -Why is this?
When we look a bit further back in our text to verse 17, we see the disciples, having seen Jesus for the first time after His resurrection worshiping Him. If there were any doubts in most of their minds as to His deity previously, they were now quenched. Yet we find that some still doubted! They stood face to face with the resurrected God, and yet they still doubted - why is this?
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commands.” From the days of Jesus until now, the church has been full of nominal Christians. Christians who are simply there for the social interaction; perhaps for the community benefits; maybe even for the hope of salvation, but not truly in love with Jesus, reflected in a life of worship.
These disciples saw Christ and in a state of love and awe, worshiped; and as a result, went into the world upon Jesus’ command and began preaching of His love. When we as Christians love Jesus, we gladly share His love with the world through the gospel message. When we fail to love Jesus, when we doubt Him and what He has done, when we fail to honor Him in worship and merely offer lip service, we are not doing what Jesus commanded.
True evangelism, evangelism that is effective and relevant, must flow from a love and worship for Jesus Christ. It is the expression of the love He first showed us. It is a lifestyle birthed out of a desire to please Him. It is an overflow from a heart that is surrendered and obedient to Him.
So the question remains, do you love Jesus?
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