Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”
-Matthew 28:18-20
These verses, the Great Commission, are probably read and meditated on by every missionary. They are the reason to be a missionary. Jesus’ last words before He left earth. The emphasis is often on the go and make disciples. When I came on this trip, I had this idea in my head of what we’d be doing, as did everyone (you’re probably getting sick of reading about laying down expectations right now, but it has been such an important part of this trip). I knew we’d be doing ministry to orphans, and I was excited about it. But I also had this picture in my head of sharing the gospel with people and bringing them to Jesus. In my mind, that was what would have validated my being a missionary. That hasn’t happened. It’s not for lack of trying. Our team has made many relationships with people in this community outside of the people at the boys’ home. And they know we’re Christians. But we haven’t directly come out and verbally given them the gospel. Honestly, that made me feel a little bit like a failure.
But, the voice of the Spirit (which I have come to know so well over the past two months) reminded me to read the whole part of the Great Commission. Part of it is, “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” I believe that is an important part of the Great Commission. It is hugely important that people are introduced to Jesus. Eternally important. But once they give their life to Him, they have so much to learn about being a Christian, about how it brings new life now and in eternity. God is reminding me that right now, with these boys, that is the part we’ve played. We’ve spent day in and day out with these boys, telling and showing them what it means to obey what God has commanded.
We only have 4 days left with the boys. 4 DAYS. I cannot express the emotions that flood through me when I really stop to think about that. But right now, my Papa is telling me this. That I have played a part in the Great Commission with these boys.
In these last days, I have been “interviewing” all of the boys. They love it, and so do we. Through these interviews I have learned that most of these boys want to be missionaries, preachers, or do Jesus work. What they’ve learned from us and us being here will go with them all over India when they grow up and go out and do Jesus work 🙂
