After Jesus’ resurrection, He left this charge to His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20, “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.” Now, my questions are … Have we been honest in our going forth? Have we been diligent about our Father’s business of making disciples? Are we disciples or are we distracted? See, we’ve become so complacent with going to worship that we don’t take it outside the doors of the church. We get caught up in the rhetoric (empty talk) of religion that we forget about a relationship with God. Oh, we are stuck on “I am the church,” when no boo, we are members of the church. If you were the church, why would God need so many willing workers? This is why we have to study God’s word for ourselves, in order to get an understanding. “God knows my heart,” yes and it isn’t right. We can’t keep using this line as a way to appease our sin because if our heart was right; we’d stop using excuses as to why we can’t serve God in the capacity He needs.
Look, my brothers and my sisters; it’s time we stop pacifying this thang and being distracted by the glitz and glamour of mess. God has needs of us; His people. Yet, we can’t serve in the shape we’re in and the only way we get out of this mess; we’ve got to give our self over to the potter, God. The Savior has needs of us, His people and it’s time we start acting like it. Stop waiting until a funeral to join somebody’s church that you don’t even go back to that Sunday (You’re distracted by your grief). Quit waiting until tragedy strikes your house before you call on God (You’re distracted by the situation). Don’t wait until a holiday to go to worship (You’re distracted by self). Don’t wait until you are laid on your back, in jail, in court, getting scary news from the doctor, standing over a loved one’s grave, coming down from that high of alcohol or drugs or in the midst of your storm before you seek the Lord (You’re distracted by the circumstance). We have a responsibility as children of God to go ye therefore but we can’t do it if we’ve yet to go. I can’t minister to you if I’m still distracted by my mess. I can’t preach to you if I’m distracted by the view from my pit. I can’t encourage you if I’m still distracted by the woes of life and can’t encourage myself. I can’t tell you about a Savior if I’ve been distracted and yet to serve Him. I can’t tell you that God will inhabit your praise if I’ve been too distracted to offer Him my praise. We’ve been left with the charge of making disciples but we can’t do it if we’re still distracted by deciding to be a disciple ourselves. Are you a disciple or are you a distraction?
Lakisha, the Author 