Only God can save people; our responsibility is to share His message with the world.
Matthew 28:16-20
When a teacher gives an assignment, responsible students take it seriously. They do what’s required, give their best effort, and complete the work in a timely manner.
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave us a commandment—an assignment really—but many Christians are half-hearted about completing the task. Christ told His followers to share the good news about salvation and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey His commands. Some believers dedicate themselves to this work, but others are either too busy or too timid to commit in this way.
The scope of this assignment is global—to all nations. But that doesn’t mean everyone should move to another country. Some believers are called by God to go far from home, but others are called to minister right where they are. The mission field is all around us—in our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods.
As Christ’s followers, we have the Holy Spirit residing within us, which means we have His power to fulfill this command. We can’t save anyone, but it’s our responsibility to tell people about the God who can. How will they believe unless they hear (Rom. 10:14)?