LEARNING DAILY

 

Isaiah 45:22-23, “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth!  For I am God, and there is no other.  I have sworn by Myself; the Word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and it shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, and every tongue take an oath.”  God

 

Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the age.” Amen.

 

Every so often I need to remind myself and you of 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  Why do we need to be reminded of this in this blog page?  The answer is centered on whether you and I believe this to be true or not.  Isaiah and all of the New Testament tell us that there is no other god but God which means only through Him is one saved and able to walk on the narrow way.  Every person on earth is invited to “look to Him and be saved” from an eternity in hell.  2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God does not want this for any person!  God’s offer  through Isaiah is still available to all individuals – repent and be saved!  Jesus Christ gives the same invitation.

 

Jesus’ words above are known as the Great Commission.  God’s people are promised to have authority and power to declare to what Jesus has done for us throughout the world – this would be our area of influence.  That power comes through power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The Great Commission was not just given to the people of Biblical days; it was given to you and me.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is centered on repentance and the forgiveness of sins, the promise of receiving the Holy Spirit, and to live lives separate from this corrupt and evil world – walking on the narrow way.  We do this while continually being ready for the return of Jesus for His Church.

 

Let me draw your attention to a key phrase of the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples”.  You and I are not just intended to make converts; we are to make disciples, ones who will follow God’s Word (Go back and read 2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Evangelism is important.  It is just as important to follow up with those who accept the salvation invitation to be sure they are being helped with their new life in Christ.  Discipleship is a responsibility that is to often ignored.  To ignore it is to allow the new convert to allow the concerns of the world or trials that come cause him to stumble because the Word has not taken root. Read the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13.  The Great Commission is not about increasing the numbers of a church membership roll.  It is about “making disciples who separate themselves from the world, observe the commands of Christ, and follow Him with all their hearts, minds, and wills (John 8:31) (LSSB).  That is walking on the narrow way!

 

Here is the promise: “I am with you!”  Jesus promised that His presence and authority would be with all believers who walk on the narrow way and help others to walk there as well.  Let this thought from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible encourage you to stay on this narrow way and to reach out to others to get on it through Jesus Christ’s offer of salvation.  “No matter what your condition is – weak, poor, humble, apparently unimportant – He cares for you, watches with concern every detail of life’s trials and struggles, and give both the grace that is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) and His presence to lead you home (Matthew 18:20; Acts 18:10).  This is the Christian’s answer to every fear, every doubt, every trouble, every heartache, and every discouragement.”

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB