"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." Matthew 28:19-20
The greatest of all time, the perfect man, the savior of the world, our brother and redeemer, Jesus, lays out our purpose before the disciples and us. He gives us our mission and goal in life. What a big and great task he has set before us, but how do we accomplish this? Drum roll, please.
Jesus says, " I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Jesus' promise reminds me of what God spoke over Joshua in Joshua chapter 1:5, "I will be with you, I will not leave you or forsake you." You can accept the calling from Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission) because you have a God and brother who will not leave or forsake you. They will go before you, walk beside you and guide you in fulfilling your purpose.
But wait. God is with you, Jesus is with you, and then in Acts 1:8, we see Jesus providing even more help. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses..." The moment you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. AKA, "The Helper." God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are with you. Incredible!
But it's not just the Spirit. It's the gifts he gives as well. Then, throw in the fruits of the Spirit, and oh my!
The answer to our question continues.
Acts chapter 2, the church is formed—the Body of Christ. We see this group of believers share life and possessions, do ministry, encourage one another, and eat and worship together. They demonstrated so beautifully the power of the church. Together as one community, the Body of Christ can fulfill the great task of sharing the gospel with the world. Hand in hand with the unique gifts God has given you and me, we help fulfill this Great Calling, this Great Task of the Great Commission.
God, Jesus, Spirit, and the Church. Unbelievable are the tools and resources the Lord has given you to fulfill your life calling in him.
Together as one community, the Body of Christ can fulfill the great task of sharing the gospel with the world.
To reemphasize last week's email, discovering your purpose in the Lord is to understand your value. The Bible tells us that we are each uniquely and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:14). Through His grace, Jesus has given you a new spiritual identity, and it's an identity you must learn to recognize and live according to it. Ephesians 2:10 explains, "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." This means every person has their unique purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission, and it is up to each individual to uncover how to use the spiritual gifts and resources the Lord gives. Are you valuable and needed in the Kingdom of God? Yes, ABSOLUTELY!
What has the Lord been revealing to you this past month as we have been discussing spiritual gifts?
I like this quote from Tommy Lasorda, former LA Dodgers manager. He said, "There are three types of baseball players: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happens."
Which one are you? A person that makes it happen, watches what happens, or wonders what happens.
If you've been watching, then I encourage you to stop. It's time to become a "make-it-happen person" who controls your destiny and lives out your God-given dreams!
Consider these questions. What short-term and long-term goals can I set for myself to fulfill the Lord's calling? Short-term goals are actions you take today to produce the long-term desired outcome the Lord has placed before you. Remember, everything goes back to the great commission; it's about being Jesus to all in the world. How has God uniquely designed you to fulfill that call?
Tommy Lasorda, former LA Dodgers Manager. He said, "There are three types of baseball players: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happens." Tommy Lasorda, former LA Dodgers Manager
Once you answer these questions, make a plan of action with attainable steps toward accomplishing your goals. Take small measurable moves each day to achieve your goals, no matter how small they may seem at first; this will help build your confidence and progress toward success.
You don't have to wait around for good things to happen – you can create them yourself! You can use your gifts and talents to serve something greater than yourself. Take a leap of faith and pursue what matters most to you – because God has equipped you for success!
Be sure to celebrate your successes along the way! Whether it's something big or small, recognize when an action or task goes according to plan and appreciate the moments, as they will help keep you motivated on your journey. Email me and let me know your success so I can praise God and celebrate with you.
I encourage you to stay connected with the church and others with similar values and goals. Surround yourself with positive energy that will support, encourage, and inspire you through challenges or struggles along the way. Working together is an integral part of making things happen!
Finally, remember, quitting is not an option. There will always be obstacles on your path, but you can learn from them, get back up again, and continue forward regardless of any temporary setbacks. With this mindset of resilience and determination, success is possible.
So which one are you?
A person who makes it happen or watches what happens?
Let's be a make-it-happen person and be who God created us to be!
Prayers and Love,
Caleb Elrod
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
". . . remember, quitting is not an option."