Yesterday was a full and meaningful day for me. I was blessed to meet with my best friends who were also with me in my early walk with God. Although we now live in different places and serve in different churches because of our current locations, God has been so good to keep us rooted in Him.
Each of us is still serving the Lord—whether in music ministry, children’s ministry, or other areas of the church. Seeing them reminded me how faithful God has been through the years and how He brings people together for His purposes.
How My Faith Journey Began
Back in college, two of us weren’t yet Christians. One of my friends already was, though I didn’t know it at the time. She invited us to help during her church’s anniversary celebration. The church was still small then and needed extra hands, so we gladly helped—without fully understanding the deeper significance. Little did I realize that this simple invitation would become a turning point in my life.
A week later, I was invited again—this time to a Sunday school class led by our late pastor. I still remember when the Book of Acts was mentioned; I thought it was spelled “Axe” because I knew so little about the Bible back then. This was in 2016, and usually, Sundays were my days to sleep in and rest. But God was already gently working on my heart.
Week by week, I continued attending Sunday services and Sunday school, gradually growing deeper in my faith. Later that year, I was baptized—and the rest is history.
Looking back, I’m grateful for those small, seemingly ordinary moments that God used to gently guide me into a deeper relationship with Him. Sometimes, all it takes is one invitation, one step of faith, to begin a life-changing journey.
God’s Transformation in My Life
Over the years, God has changed my life completely—turning things around, providing beyond what I needed, and giving me peace and love that cannot be compared to anything else.
And with a heart changed by God’s love, I’ve also felt a growing sense of urgency about the mission Jesus gave us—the Great Commission.
Understanding the Great Commission
The Great Commission is one of Jesus’ final commands before He ascended into heaven. It is found in Matthew 28:19–20:
“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 am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)
This is not a suggestion—it’s a command for all believers. And it’s not only for pastors or missionaries; it’s for every follower of Christ.
The Great Commission has four main parts:
- Go – Take initiative to reach others.
- Make disciples – Lead people to follow Jesus, not just make converts.
- Baptize – Help new believers publicly declare their faith.
- Teach – Help them grow in obedience to God’s Word.
Let’s break down practical, biblical ways to live this out every day.
1. Plant Seeds Faithfully
If my friend hadn’t invited me to church, I might have come to know Christ much later in life. That small invitation planted a seed in my heart, and God made it grow.
We often underestimate the power of small acts of faith. You may think you’re not “qualified” to share the Gospel because you haven’t been to Bible school or you’re not a confident speaker. But the truth is, you are not the one who changes hearts—God is. Your role is to plant the seed.
Paul wrote:
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6, NIV)
Practical examples of planting seeds:
- Invite someone to church or Bible study. Even if they don’t come right away, the invitation communicates care and can spark curiosity.
- Send an encouraging Bible verse when someone is going through a hard time.
- Offer to pray for someone in the moment rather than just saying, “I’ll pray for you.”
- Live out your faith consistently at work, school, or home so people see Jesus in your actions.
Planting seeds takes patience—you may not see results immediately. But God’s timing is perfect.
2. Share the Gospel Clearly
At the heart of the Great Commission is the message of salvation.
The word Gospel means “Good News.” And the Good News is that:
- We are all sinners. (Romans 3:23)
- Sin’s penalty is death. (Romans 6:23)
- Jesus paid that penalty on the cross. (1 Peter 3:18)
- We are saved by grace through faith, not by our works. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Jesus Himself made it clear:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV)
To illustrate just how incredible this message is, here’s a story that shows the depth of God’s love for us.
Illustration of God’s Love:
Imagine there’s a dangerous kidnapper who has taken all the prisoners from a city—people guilty of terrible crimes. The kidnapper says he will release all of them, but only if someone offers the life of a perfect, innocent person in their place.
No one in that city qualifies—everyone has done wrong in some way. But then, the demand changes:
“If you want them to be set free, you must give up your own child—the one you love the most—as the replacement.”
Now pause and think:
If you were that parent, would you be willing to sacrifice your own son or daughter so that the guilty could be set free? Most of us would say no—because the guilty deserve their punishment.
But this is exactly what God did for us. We were prisoners to sin, guilty before a holy God. The penalty for sin is death, and no one was good enough to pay the price for another. Yet through His incredible love, God gave His one and only Son, Jesus—perfect, sinless, and full of love—to take our place.
And Jesus was not forced—He willingly gave His life. As He said:
“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (John 10:18, NIV)
His death on the cross was the one and only sacrifice needed to set us free forever.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV)
3. Baptize New Believers
Baptism is one of the first steps of obedience after receiving Jesus. It doesn’t save us—faith in Christ does—but it’s a public declaration that our old life is gone and we now belong to Him.
“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death… just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)
When we go under the water, it symbolizes being buried with Christ. When we rise from the water, it shows that we’ve been raised to new life in Him.
Even Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:13–17), setting an example for us. Baptism is also a bold testimony—telling the world, “I belong to Jesus.”
In the New Testament, baptism often happened soon after conversion (Acts 2:41, Acts 8:36–38). But discipleship begins right away—walking with Christ, learning His Word, and growing in faith starts the moment we believe.
If someone has just accepted Christ, encourage them toward baptism. Walk with them, pray with them, and celebrate the day they declare their faith.
4. Walk With Them (Discipleship)
The Great Commission doesn’t end with sharing the Gospel—it continues with making disciples. This means we don’t just introduce someone to Christ and leave them; we walk with them, teach them God’s Word, and help them grow in faith.
Jesus Himself modeled this. He didn’t only preach—He spent time with His disciples, ate with them, answered their questions, corrected them, and encouraged them.
“…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20)
Walking with someone in their faith journey can look like:
- Studying the Bible together
- Praying for each other
- Encouraging them in trials
- Keeping them accountable in their walk with God
Discipleship is about relationship. As we walk together, they too will learn to disciple others, and the ripple effect of the Gospel will continue.
Encouragement for You
Friend, the Great Commission is not a heavy burden—it’s a joyful privilege. And Jesus promised we would never do it alone:
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, NIV)
You don’t need to be perfect or have all the answers. You just need to be willing and obedient. God will do the rest.
Reflection Question
What is one step you can take this week to live out the Great Commission?
Let’s Keep Growing Together
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And if you know someone who might be blessed by this message, would you consider sharing this blog with them? Your simple act of sharing could be the seed that God uses to change a life.
Faithfully,
Yani 💛
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