All Of It

I have a toy poodle named Otis. He is a COVID puppy, so he is about two years old.

In the beginning, I had a lot of time to research YouTube to learn how to train a puppy. Not only that, I really wanted to be an expert dog trainer. I was determined to teach Otis everything. So…  sit, stay, fetch, roll over, place, sit pretty, rest, catch a frisbee, go get me a drink, etc.

He was going to be a perfectly obedient and trained dog.

Can you guess how long that passion lasted? Well, not very long because Otis can barely sit still unless I bribe him with treats.

And most of the time, I am frustrated because I’m repeating command after command with no sign of obedience.

I would say to myself often:

“Have I taught you anything?”

“Was all my effort in vain?”

“Will you ever learn?”

In Matthew 28:19-20, it says:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

- Matthew 28:19-20

Here, Jesus urges us to disciple others by teaching them to observe ALL that he has commanded us.

Another version renders the word “all” as “everything.”

In other words, our discipling others is not over until they live out all that Jesus has commanded them. Wow!

I don’t know about you, but this can easily be very discouraging. At least, that is how I felt when I read this verse. I was like, Jesus, I can barely teach my cute little Otis anything, but…

How can I teach others to observe ALL you have taught in the Bible? Is that even possible?

I’m sure all of us listening to this have tried to disciple someone before. So, you understand the weight of this passage.

But, I’m sure you also know the next part of the verse that provides grace and strength.

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

- Matthew 28:20b

God is with you as you disciple. You are not alone.

And when God says, “I am with you always”, it is more than just words of comfort: It is words of change. Whoever we attempt to disciple and teach, Jesus is the one who changes them. Jesus is the one who convicts them. Our part is to try. Our part is to be faithful.

Who are you teaching? Who are you mentoring? Who are you discipling in 2022? I encourage you to Go First and start. If you don’t have someone, pray that God will bring someone into your life.

Pray that you will have the courage to make disciples and teach them to observe all that Christ has commanded us. Amen.

Pastor Sean

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