(The following is the September 23 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 2 Thessalonians 3 and pay close attention to verses 1-5.)
The Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 is Christ’s command to make disciples of people from all nations. It’s difficult to grasp the extent of this task, much less how to accomplish it. It’s not something we can complete quickly or easily. Nearly twenty centuries after Jesus gave us the command, we still haven’t finished it. Yet, as faithful soldiers in Christ’s army, we still proclaim the gospel because of our love for Christ and those who don’t know him. The slowness of completing the mission must not lead to complacency on our part. The task is urgent because of the frailty and brevity of human life.
About 115 people die every minute of every day worldwide – nearly two people every second.* We don’t know when anyone lost in sin may draw his final earthly breath and face the eternal Judge. By the time you read this page, hundreds of people will have passed from life to death. How many will die without hearing the gospel? How many have heard but will reject it? How many have loving Christians pleading with them and praying for them to repent and trust in Christ?
Paul understood the urgency of sharing the gospel, writing, “pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you” (v. 1). He reminded the Corinthians that “now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!” (2 Cor. 6:2). We can’t control how others respond to the gospel, but we can control our faithfulness in proclaiming it. Our task is to do our part as rapidly as possible. Whether others respond is between them and God.
Beware of thinking you have a lifetime ahead of you to slowly develop relationships and eventually earn the right to share the gospel with someone. Neither you nor they may be here that long.
Next Step:
Name someone you love who isn’t a Christian. What can you do very soon to share the gospel with that person?
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* “World Death Rate,” World Population Review, accessed March 21, 2022, https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/deaths-per-day.
