Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
MATTHEW 28:18-20
God doesn't save us only for our own benefit, nor does He bless us only for our own sake. God is on a mission to the world, to all peoples, and He invites us to join Him in that mission. He sends us as His ambassadors to “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), so that those of “every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9) will know, worship and follow Him.
Although God’s law and Word were given to Israel first, when the church began He made it clear the good news of Christ and salvation were for everyone. As the apostle Paul and his fellow teacher Barnabas said in Acts 13:47, “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” This goes with our commission to reconcile, discussed here.
The call to go beyond is not only for a select few. All believers are called to share in making “disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18). This does not mean that every believer must personally travel to the nations to share the gospel, but it does mean every believer should either go on mission, or help support the work of missions and sending others beyond into the world. Consider going on a mission trip yourself if possible, or offering financial support to short-term mission teams and or long-term missionaries. The benefits of investing ourselves in God’s work are eternal!
We can also go beyond even where we are, as we reach out to others in the larger community with the life-changing gospel of God. Consider volunteering for a organization or non-profit that shows the love of God to people in your area. You may be able to get involved with local compassion and outreach efforts through your church and its partnerships with nearby groups or ministries.
Sometimes going beyond even happens within the church, as we serve those who come to us. Our church, for instance, partners with a African refugee church, serves our local area with a food pantry, offers free English as a Second Language classes, and sponsors a Celebrate Recovery ministry that brings people to the church for the support that God and His people can provide. It could also mean sitting by someone new in a worship service and inviting them to your small group, Sunday School, or Bible study—or to lunch.
As followers of Christ, we aim to both proclaim and demonstrate the truth of His gospel and the hope we have in Him. Ideally, we will all go beyond in multiple ways, to help achieve God’s main purpose: bringing glory to Himself. To truly belong to a community of believers and fully become the followers of Christ that He’s made us to be, we must also live beyond, to help complete His purposes for us and for the world.