See the Great Commission with fresh eyes!

Shortly before He ascended into Heaven, Jesus gathered His disciples to give them some final instructions. Among His last words was the now well-known phrase, found in Matthew 28:19…

“Go and make disciples.”

Known in Christian circles as the Great Commission, this simple phrase serves as a rallying cry for churches, persuading some believers to move to the far corners of the earth and evangelize on every street, to every person, at every opportunity.

For many, this is the pinnacle of Christian achievement—and also a crushing weight.

Years ago, I worked tirelessly to obey what I thought the Great Commission commands. Yet no matter how hard I tried, I still wrestled with feelings of guilt and failure, thinking I wasn’t living up to God’s expectations when it came to evangelism.

Then I took a closer look at the original language of the passage and discovered something life-changing…

Jesus’ actual words are better translated, “As you go…” or “Having gone…”

You see, many Christians have misunderstood the main call of the Great Commission—and missed the point entirely of what Jesus was saying.

The Great Commission was never meant to be an imposing command to relocate or a guilt-inducing mandate to share our faith with everyone we meet.

When you look at the Great Commission with fresh eyes, you’ll find that it’s an invitation to take part in what God is already doing.

As a believer, you’re already “going” by walking as a child of light and reflecting the love of Christ. You’re already a beacon of life-changing grace to everyone around you.

God just wants you to live from the heart, bragging on Jesus and the new life you have in Him. So let go of the guilt and pressure and simply be ready to tell people about the incredible hope within you (1 Peter 3:15)!