Embracing God’s presence and sharing His love with others not only transforms our hearts but also inspires positive change in the world around us, fostering real change, healing, and hope amid challenges and uncertainties. We read in Matthews 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This passage holds significant importance for believers as it contains what is commonly referred to as the Great Commission.
This command has a universal scope for all believers, calling us as Christ’s followers to share the gospel message with people of every nation, ethnicity, and culture. The focus on making disciples involves not only leading people to faith but also nurturing them in their spiritual growth and helping them become fully devoted followers of Jesus. As believers, we are to prioritize teaching and living out the teachings of Jesus, understanding that true discipleship involves both understanding God’s Word and obeying His commands. Here is an amazing reality, the Great Commission is a task empowered by the Holy Spirit, where believers rely on His guidance, strength, and presence as they engage in evangelism and discipleship. Matthew 28:19-20 is a foundational mandate for our faith, guiding our mission as believers to know God and make Him known.
We discover emphasized in Jeremiah 9:23-24 the importance of knowing God and growing in our relationship with Him. It begins by cautioning against boasting in one’s own wisdom, strength, or riches. Instead, it encourages humility, recognizing that true wisdom and understanding come from knowing and acknowledging God. It highlights that the essence of wisdom lies in knowing God and understanding His character, His ways, and His will. This knowledge goes beyond mere intellectual understanding; it involves a personal and intimate relationship with God. To know God is to know His love and love Him, and to love Him is to genuinely make Him known in word and deed.
Think of the transformational impact of knowing God found in 2 Corinthians 5:17. This verse highlights several key points regarding the transformational impact of knowing God. Believers in Christ are described as a “new creation,” which signifies a radical transformation that occurs at the spiritual level. It’s not just about behavioral change but a fundamental renewal of one’s identity and nature. This verse emphasizes that the old, referring to our sinful nature, past mistakes, and bondage to sin, has passed away, which indicates a break from our former way of life and a liberation from the power of sin.
The newness brought by knowing God is not superficial but profound. It involves a new way of being, feeling, and thinking—a life guided by the principles of God’s kingdom, characterized by love, righteousness, and holiness. The transformative power is attributed to being “in Christ.” This emphasizes the centrality of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Through Him, we experience forgiveness, redemption, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who catalyzes our transformation.
While the initial transformation is instantaneous upon salvation, the Christian life is also a journey of ongoing transformation, which involves growing in faith, renewing our minds through God’s Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us continually. Here is the point. Believers’ revolutionary purpose begins with knowing God. 18th-century pastor, theologian, and church leader John Wesley explained, “When God transforms a heart, He transforms a life, and that life transforms the world.”
We discover this verse in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Like Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8 is a foundational verse that outlines the mission of every believer. The verse begins by highlighting the crucial role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers for their mission. We need the Holy Spirit’s guidance, strength, and presence in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Acts 1:8 is not just a mandate for a select group of missionaries or leaders but applies to every believer and underscores the responsibility and privilege of all Christians to participate in God’s mission of reaching all people with the love and message of Christ everywhere. The late great evangelist Billy Graham rightly proclaimed, “We are not called to keep the light to ourselves but to be torchbearers, illuminating the world with God’s truth and love.”
Further, it is essential for all believers to engage in Romans 10:13-15, as it emphasizes the universal call to proclaim the Gospel and make God known to all people, regardless of background or status. This passage underscores the urgency and importance of sharing the message of salvation, highlighting that salvation is available to everyone who calls on the name of the Lord. As believers, we are called to actively participate in the mission of making God known, bringing the good news of His grace, love, and salvation to the ends of the earth, fulfilling the Great Commission, and reflecting Christ’s love for humanity. Here is the point. Believers’ revolutionary purpose begins with knowing God and is fulfilled by making Him known. The recently passed Tim Keller wonderfully noted, “The most revolutionary act a believer can do is to live out the Gospel in a world that desperately needs the hope it offers.”
Imagine a city skyline illuminated by countless lights, each representing a believer shining the light of Christ. As these lights come together, they create a radiant beacon of hope and transformation, piercing through the darkness and drawing people to the warmth and brightness of God’s love. Just as a single candle can dispel darkness in a room, each of us, united in purpose and fueled by our knowledge of God, has the potential to bring about a revolutionary transformation in the world around us. I pray that empowered by God’s Spirit to live out our revolutionary purpose of knowing God and making Him known, we will bring light and life as everyday missionaries in our homes, workplaces, schools, and places where we play (communities where we live). Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!