by Marc Hill

“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” Psalm 73:1-2.

This scripture goes on to talk about how the psalmist envied the arrogant when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. As for me though I almost lost my foothold when I let my purpose come from other pursuits besides doing the work of God. I have tried to get my fulfillment from school, my pursuits in graphic design, and work. However, it has left me unfulfilled!

I want to renew my purpose as a disciple and a worker for God, giving people God’s Word. Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20 have commissioned me to go into the world, make disciples, baptize them, and to teach them to obey everything that Jesus commanded. My purpose is not to make graphic design. My purpose is to fulfill this Great Commission!

Being in Cincinnati for the weekend I had the opportunity to watch the sermons that were held at the global leadership conference in LA (through the Internet). I was inspired by Chris Broom’s message. I was reignited with the fire to live out the Great Commission and make things happen in our movement. I want to focus forward and make disciples and bring others into life-changing Bible studies.

I’m sick of dreaming of being a graphic designer; I want to be a full-time worker for the Lord. How am I going to do this? I’m going to take myself out of the picture. What do I mean by this? I’m going to seek lots of advice. I’m going to take ownership of things that matter, like helping my friend at school who I’m studying the Bible with and see that he becomes a disciple. What I want to do differently is to keep on eating the food of God.

Frankly, I have made some disciples but have fallen short in teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded. It’s about me keeping the commitment. The two disciples that God allowed me to make this past year are still faithful, but I have used the excuse of having different schedules as justification for hardly being involved in their lives anymore. I know that such thinking is wrong, and I plan to change! I may not see them every day, but I can still encourage and disciple them on issues as needed. If this friend of mine from school makes it into the kingdom, I plan to make it my purpose (as the scripture commands) to teach him to obey Jesus as well as make him a disciple.

One of the greatest calls we have is to make disciples. There is no more meaningful purpose for man: not being a designer, a writer, a social worker, etc. Nothing is more important than loving God and making disciples.

Having had a great trip to Cincinnati, I was able to study the Bible with my sister and mother. Love being the goal, I must keep up with them and encourage them to make the decision to become disciples of Christ.

For me, this is a step higher, because in the past, I had focused on simply sharing my faith in hopes that someone will come out to some spiritual activity in the church. What if we have the whole Matthew 28:18-20 scripture in mind, planning to teach someone to obey as well, once we have led him to the waters of baptism? I think for me, teaching to obey needs to be included more in my understanding of Jesus’ Great Commission, and I thank God for such a wonderful and fulfilling plan.

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