Matthew 28: 18--20
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, 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. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age."
In the name of the One Who is with us always, amen.
>From this passage we see that people are regenerated, or made to be disciples through Holy Baptism, and through teaching. This grace is given to all nations. We should not pick and chose whom we think are worthy. This grace of being made a disciple of the Triune God is for Jews, Greeks, Chinese, Mexicans, Germans, Italians, Norwegians, and yes, even the British. There is no one who is excluded.
But, do we actually act as if we believe this? Or are there people whom we judge to be unworthy. Are there people who are too poor, too stupid, to backwards, or just plain too strange for us to attempt to make disciples of them?
Jesus tells us that all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth. He commands us to go and make disciples, just as His command to make disciples has resulted in our coming to faith. His Command to make disciples is a program that has been placed into us. We cannot help but make disciples. Just as God spoke in creation and said, "Be fruitful and multiply; and mankind has been fruitful without giving it much thought, so Christians make disciples without giving it much thought.
We make disciples without much thought because Jesus is with us and will continue to be with us. It is His presence among us that enables us to fulfill His commands. We who have been baptized into the Holy Triune God now reach out to others as a natural action of our faith. Praise and glory be to our God who fills us with His spirit so that we are able to make disciples of all nations. Amen.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your promise to be with us to the end of the age. Please fill us with your Sprit, and guide us by your presence so that we continue to make disciples of all nations as you have commanded, amen.