Day 21 — Go and Make Disciples

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations… And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” — Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)

Twenty-one days ago, this journey began with an invitation: “Come, follow me.”

Jesus called His first disciples to Himself. They did not know everything. They did not understand everything that was ahead, but they simply responded to the invitation and began following Him.

That is where discipleship begins, but it is not where discipleship ends.

After walking with Jesus, learning from Him, watching Him minister, witnessing His death and resurrection, and being prepared for what was ahead, those same disciples received another command: “Go and make disciples.”

First: COME. Then: FOLLOW. Then: BECOME. And finally: GO.

Jesus calls us to Himself so that He can transform us and send us into the world carrying what He has placed within us. You were never meant to receive everything Jesus has given you and keep it to yourself.

Disciples are made so they can make disciples.

Think about where this journey has taken you. You have learned to follow Jesus. To seek Him first. To recognize the Shepherd’s voice. To obey what He says. To trust Him when you do not understand. To walk by faith. To remain in Christ. You have learned that Jesus is transforming you from the inside out and learned to renew your mind with truth. You learned to pray and to see people through the eyes of Jesus.

To live set apart and to walk by the Spirit and to depend upon the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Then the journey turned outward.

You learned that you are an ambassador of King Jesus. You learned to respond when the Holy Spirit prompts you. To see the one and to share what Jesus has done. To pray boldly and lay hands on the sick and minister in the authority of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. You learned to walk with someone and help them follow Jesus.

You have not learned everything, actually none of us have. A disciple never stops learning but you have been equipped to begin.

And now Jesus says: Go.

Notice how Jesus gave the Great Commission. He began with: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Then He said: “Therefore go…”

And He finished with: “Surely I am with you always…”

The mission is surrounded by Jesus. HIS AUTHORITY → YOUR ASSIGNMENT → HIS PRESENCE

Remember that you are not being sent in your own authority or in your own strength. You are not being asked to change the world through your personality, talent, intelligence, or ability.

The King sends you. And the King goes with you.

When you feel inadequate, remember who sent you and when you feel afraid, remember who goes with you.

When you do not know what to say, depend upon the Holy Spirit and when someone rejects what you share, remember that your responsibility is obedience. When ministry feels bigger than you, remember: It was always supposed to be bigger than you. That is why you need Him.

Before the disciples began their mission, Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit. He said: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Jesus never intended His disciples to accomplish His mission through human strength. The Holy Spirit would empower them.

Then Acts 2 happened. The Holy Spirit came and ordinary people began doing extraordinary things through the power of God.

They proclaimed Jesus boldly and prayed. They ministered healing and they gathered in homes. They broke bread together and they cared for one another. They shared what they had and carried the gospel into their communities. They made disciples and the Church grew.

The book of Acts shows us what can happen when ordinary believers surrender themselves completely to Jesus and depend upon the Holy Spirit and that same Holy Spirit is still at work in believers today.

We are not trying to reproduce Acts through human effort.

We are learning to live surrendered to the same Holy Spirit who empowered the early Church.

When Jesus told His disciples they would be His witnesses, He gave them an expanding mission: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and go to the ends of the earth. Their witness began where they were and moved outward.

Your mission can begin the same way. You do not have to wait until God sends you across the world just look around.

Remember there are places right in front of you.

The question is not: “How far will I have to go?”

The question is: “Jesus, am I willing to go wherever You send me?”

The Great Commission belongs to every disciple.

You may never preach from a platform, lead a large ministry, or travel to another nation, but you can begin with one person.

Yesterday, you learned a simple rhythm for making disciples:

INVITE → WALK → TEACH → MODEL → DO TOGETHER → SEND

Today, you are not being asked to learn the process again.

You are being commissioned to live it.

Look at the people God has already placed around you. Someone may need encouragement. Someone may need to hear what Jesus has done in your life. Someone may need prayer, truth from Scripture, or another believer willing to walk beside them.

You do not need to begin with a program, a platform, or a large group. Begin with one person.

Invite them into your life. Help them follow Jesus. Practice what you have learned together, and when they are ready, encourage them to walk with someone else.

This is how disciples multiply. What Jesus has placed in you is meant to move through you.

There is something important to remember as you go. You are not the Savior. Jesus is.

You cannot force someone to believe. You cannot argue someone into the Kingdom, and you cannot transform another person’s heart. That work belongs to God.

Your responsibility is faithfulness, to love people., tell the truth and share Jesus. Pray and listen to the Holy Spirit. Obey when He leads. Walk with people and make disciples. Then trust God to do what only He can do.

Sometimes you will plant, sometimes you will water. Sometimes you may have the privilege of watching someone surrender their life to Jesus, but God brings the growth and we don’t have to cultivate and pull weeds in their garden. Leave that up to God. That frees you from the pressure of believing every encounter must produce an immediate result. Obedience is success.

Never forget what we carry. We are not simply inviting people to become nicer people. We are not offering another self-improvement plan. We carry good news! Sin separated humanity from God, but God loved us. Jesus came and He lived without sin. He died on the cross for our sins and He was buried. He then rose again and through Jesus Christ, forgiveness is available. Reconciliation with God is available, freedom is available and new life is available. Did you know that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith in Jesus Christ? This is the message we carry.

Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” — Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Do not become ashamed of the name of Jesus. We are to love boldly, serve humbly and listen compassionately but when the door opens: Tell them about Jesus.

The book of Acts records the extraordinary beginning of the Church. The gospel moved from Jerusalem outward. People were saved, lives were transformed. The sick were healed and people were delivered. Believers were filled with the Holy Spirit. Homes became places of fellowship and ministry and Disciples were made. Churches were established, yet opposition came, but the believers kept going. They carried Jesus everywhere.

Acts 17:6 records their opponents describing them as: “These men who have caused trouble (NIV) all over the world…” Other translations capture the accusation as those who had “turned the world upside down.” They were ordinary people carrying an extraordinary gospel. We do not add another chapter to Scripture but the mission Jesus gave His Church did not end with the final page of Acts

We are still His witnesses.

The Holy Spirit is still empowering believers. The gospel is still the power of God for salvation and people still need Jesus. Disciples still need to be made, and the Church is still being sent. Now it is our turn to faithfully carry what we have received.

You may finish these twenty-one days and think: I need to learn more first. Good, keep learning.

You may think I need to grow more. Absolutely keep growing.

You may think I still have areas where Jesus is working on me. Yes, so does every disciple.

Do not confuse still growing with unable to be used.

Peter was still growing when Jesus began sending him and the disciples made mistakes while they were learning. God has always worked through imperfect people who are willing to obey Him and just now that you do not need to know everything before you take your next step. You simply need to know Jesus, stay close to Him, remain in His Word, listen to the Holy Spirit, stay connected to His Church and Keep growing.

And when He says go: Go.

This devotional has an ending but following Jesus does not. Tomorrow there will still be a Jesus to follow.

There will still be Scripture to read.

There will still be prayer.

There will still be opportunities to obey and there will still be people to love.

There will still be someone who needs encouragement.

There will still be someone who needs prayer.

There will still be someone who needs to hear what Jesus has done.

There will still be someone who needs another believer to walk beside them.

So do not close this book and think: “I finished.”

Instead say: “I have begun.”

These twenty-one days were never meant to become a spiritual finish line but meant to establish a way of life.

Today, take time with Jesus and ask: “Where are You sending me?”

Then write down the names of three people or places God has already put in your world. Ask: Who can I pray for?

Who can I encourage?

Who can I share Jesus with?

Who can I begin walking with?

Then choose one action. Remember what we learned…. Send the text, make the call, invite the person to coffee, offer to pray and share your testimony. Open your Bible with someone or invite someone to church. Serve a need and respond to the prompting.

Don’t wait for the perfect ministry opportunity. Just simply start with the person in front of you. Start where God has placed you and remain available for wherever He sends you next.

What has Jesus changed in me during these twenty-one days?

Which truth from this journey do I most need to continue practicing?

Do I believe the Great Commission includes me?

Am I depending upon my own ability or upon the power of the Holy Spirit?

Who has God already placed in my life for me to reach, encourage, pray for, or disciple?

Am I willing to begin where I am?

Am I willing to go farther if Jesus sends me?

What would it look like for me to live the pattern of Acts in my everyday life?

Am I ready to make disciples who make disciples?

King Jesus, Twenty-one days ago, I heard again Your invitation: “Come, follow Me.” Today I hear Your command: “Go.” I have chosen to follow You, and I choose again today. Thank You for everything You have taught me. I thank You for changing me. Thank You for Your Word and thank You for Your grace. Thank You for the Holy Spirit and the knowing I don’t have to go alone. All authority belongs to You. You have given me an assignment, and You have promised to be with me. So here I am. Send me.

Use my hands, my words and my testimony. Lord see my home, my table and use my gifts. Use my ordinary days and give me eyes to see the one. Give me ears to recognize Your prompting and give me courage to obey. Lord give me compassion for people. Give me boldness to speak the name of Jesus and the faith to pray. Fill me continually with Your Holy Spirit and teach me to walk with people patiently and point them toward You. Make me a disciple who makes disciples and teach those disciples to make disciples. I surrender my plans to You. My life, my future, my gifts, and my yes belong to You. I will begin where You have placed me and I will go wherever You send me. Here I am, Lord. Send me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.