Called Not Just to Know, But to Go
It's easy to have a lot of knowledge as a Christian, but do very little with what we know. Here are some thoughts that should help change your mindset.
I don’t remember the exact day, but I do remember a specific moment when I realized I knew more than enough to get into heaven. Sure, I still had questions on specific verses of the Bible and how they applied to me, but I had settled the big issues in my heart, and there was little chance of changing my mind.
Now, before you think I’m being conceited, let me explain. I haven’t begun to grasp all there is to learn in the Bible. I am not a scholar or a theologian, and I still have a long way to go in my spiritual growth. As the past few weeks of devotionals have reminded me, we are lifelong students in God’s school of wisdom and obedience. There will always be more to learn from the Master Teacher.
Yet when it comes to the heart of the gospel, I know this: I was a sinner, and I have received pardon from the Ruler of the universe. I am saved. I am on my way to heaven. I am walking in obedience to Him, and I have full confidence in my eternal salvation.
But here’s the danger. Realizing this can make it easy to settle into casual Christianity. It’s tempting to think that as long as I read my Bible, pray, and attend church, I’ve checked the boxes. But Jesus gave us so much more than a checklist; He gave us a commission. In Matthew 28:19-20, He commands His followers:
“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.”
As a Christian, it is my God-given duty to disciple others. Here are three reasons why:
Reason #1: Many Still Have Not Heard
As a teenager, I helped lead a kids’ club in Cincinnati. One evening, a new girl came for the first time. She asked question after question about everything we talked about. At first, I thought it was just curiosity. But then I realized she had never heard about Jesus. Not once.
One street over from my house lived a little girl who thought Jesus was nothing more than a curse word. Whether or not you would consider yourself a gifted teacher, many around you simply need to hear the basic message of the gospel.
Reason #2: We Already Have So Much To Give
I know the idea of discipling others can feel intimidating. Who am I to think I know enough to teach someone else? But the truth is, you and I have been entrusted with so much.
In my current work with children who live in severe poverty, I am constantly reminded to be grateful for the things I’ve been taught. I hear not only basic misunderstandings, like thinking vegetable oil is “healthy” or that sugar should be added to milk before drinking it, but also deep misconceptions about the Christian life and what it really means to follow Jesus.
I am often reminded that even the most ordinary knowledge is only ours because someone once took the time to teach us. You can tie your shoes today because someone showed you how. In the same way, the spiritual lessons you’ve learned and the wisdom you’ve gained can be exactly what someone else needs to take their next step toward Christ.
Reason #3: God Has a Specific Plan For Us
Jesus ends the Great Commission with this promise: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” He’s not sending us out on a hopeless mission. He is with us. The Holy Spirit has assignments uniquely prepared for you, and He will faithfully equip, guide, and walk beside you as you carry them out.
So yes, I know enough to get into heaven, but that knowledge was never meant to stay with me. It was meant to be shared. Every truth God has pressed into my heart is something He can use in someone else’s life.
Because one day, when I stand before the Lord, I don’t want to be remembered as someone who merely “knew enough to get to heaven.” I want to be found faithful. Faithful to use what I knew to point others to the Savior who gave His life for me.
After all, Jesus didn’t just call us to know; He called us to go. With His promise that He is with us always, we can walk forward in confidence, making disciples until the very end of the age. And along the way, you may be surprised at how much He continues to teach you in the process.
