Making Disciples is Our Mission

I tend to be more of a realist and less of a dreamer. If you are like me, you may find yourself a little discouraged sometimes when others share their stories of launching God-sized dreams. I don’t know about you, my realist friends, but doubts can easily begin to fill my mind when I focus on the dream seeds that God is planting in the lives of others and compare them with what I perceive to be a lack of a dream in me.

I hear about how God led them to start a non-profit, lead a ministry, become a blogger or influencer, write a Bible study, or speak on a stage. Then I find myself feeling like the small things I am currently doing aren’t going to make a big enough difference. Surely there is more that I should be aspiring to, right?

When I let questions like these hijack my thinking and derail my focus, it becomes way too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that there is no God-sized dream for me. Feelings of doubt wash over me and I pray to God asking, “What is it you are calling me to do for you Lord?”

As this rhetorical question falls from my lips, I am again reminded that God’s Word gives me my answer. I don’t have to pray and wonder what God is calling me to do. I just need to read the final words of Jesus to His beloved disciples in Matthew 28. The Great Commission He gives them is the same commission He calls us to today.

No matter what size dream God has planted in our heart, making disciples is our mission. Achieving this mission will look different for each of us . If leading or being in the spotlight is not your calling, that doesn’t mean you don’t have one. maybe God has called you to make disciples by caring for your family, serving behind the scenes in your local church, or walking with a friend through a hard time.

These small ministries, among others, may go unnoticed, but are just as important as the roles that are more visible. If you are a realist like me, you may probably don’t even see what you are doing as fulfilling a dream, but just doing what needs to be done. It’s really the same thing!

Maybe the dream God has laid on your heart doesn’t look so big in your own eyes, but it might be HUGE in God’s eyes. When we fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus left for us of making disciples, God is honored and His Kingdom is expanded. This is no small thing. God-sized and big may not be synonymous after all. God-sized is the perfect fit for you!

Reflection

Are you a dreamer or a realist? How does this characteristic cause you to experience discouragement or doubt?
What rhetorical questions do you often find yourself asking God? What Scriptures do you turn to for answers?
What is something you can start doing today to be more intentional in making disciples?

Goals

Write down the names of three mature, godly women who could potentially enter into a discipleship journey with you. Commit to praying for God to point you to the one who you should seek to begin a mentoring/discipleship relationship with.

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)