Follow to Lead // Matthew 28:19

Today’s verse is part of the Great Commission. This is the instruction Jesus gave to the disciples just before His ascension back to Heaven as recorded at the end of Matthew’s Gospel. The full Great Commission reads as follows: “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” The whole point is to make disciples of Jesus.

We typically think of disciples as Jesus followers. That’s right, but there is also another small nuance we must not overlook. Being a disciple also means to come alongside someone. The point to take-away is when we follow Jesus as His disciple, He will lead us alongside someone else to help them learn to follow Jesus as well. The Apostle Paul explained this in the opening verses of 2 Corinthians 1, verses 3-4: “All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us” (MSG).

Let’s commit to follow Jesus today and come alongside those with whom He wants us to connect. Keep your eyes peeled for those opportunities today. We all must follow the Lord to lead others to Him. May we commit our lives to follow to lead today.