We have all been asked to do challenging things—maybe something that, at the time, didn’t seem possible. It could’ve been an action beyond our perceived abilities, or it was completely new. To get over the immediate apprehension or anxiety of the task, we need to break the action down into smaller actionable steps. Let’s practice this with an imperative from our Lord.
Go
The command to “go” is evident, “Go therefore and make disciples…” (Matt 28:19). We don’t have to go very far. The word “go” in this context means “as you are going.” This is something that should start in our own households and extend to those “of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). From our back yards to the far country.
Go speak
“Teaching them” (Matt. 28:20). We should pray as Paul prescribed, “that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ… that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak” (Col. 4:3-4). Part of that is preparing ourselves to speak, “always being ready” “in season and out of season” (1 Pet. 3:15; 2 Tim. 4:2). We are seed sowers (Matt. 13:1-9). Nothing grows without the seed. A comforting thought is that we don’t have to judge the hearts of men before we sow the seed. This sower spread it everywhere, so can we.
Go speak My words
Another thing that is helpful is that we have the message already. “Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matt. 28:20). Like Paul, we can’t “shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27). We must not water down the power of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16). Like anything in the production process, if you put less into it, you will get less out of it. There is a standard of quality and purity that must be maintained.
Go speak My words in love
What we say is important. How we say it is important, also. “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col. 4:5-6). This passage and “speaking the truth in love” should encapsulate the heart of the sower (Eph. 4:14-15). Love won’t leave anything out and will make sure the message is conveyed in a way that is most probable of producing fruit.
Breaking this command down to its basic elements gives us actionable steps that didn’t seem possible, but He is with us, even to the end of the age.