GOD’S BIG INTERSECTION
The Great Commandments and the Great Commission is God’s Big Intersection. Scriptures tell the story:
THE GREAT COMMISSION
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
THE GREAT INTERSECTION
Lord Jesus, please show us how do these two intersect in our life in you. How shall we then live, based on these truths? What gets in the way of us living the way you want to live? What actions do mature Christ-followers need to take as a result?
Dear child, there is a war raging in spiritual realms. Help my people to see clearly this spiritual battle.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV
Lord Jesus, what takes mature Christ-followers off mission?
Child, it is spiritual pride.
SPIRITUAL PRIDE DERAILS MATURE CHRIST-FOLLOWERS
Here is what I think about that Lord. Spiritual pride, an inflated sense of personal righteousness or spiritual superiority, is a very subtle and powerful adversary for mature Christ-followers. Satan uses this to manifest self-righteousness, judgement, or a sense of superiority over others who may not share the same level of faith, Biblical knowledge, or spiritual practices. These distortions steer mature Christ-followers off their mission as outlined in the Great Commission and the Great Commandments. Instead of promoting love, humility, and empathy as modeled by Christ, spiritual pride produces division, elitism, and a sense of superiority. It misguides us into pursuing greater and greater knowledge of the Bible. This practice hinders personal spiritual growth and impedes the mission to spread Christ’s love and teachings universally. Therefore, it’s crucial for mature Christ-followers to guard against spiritual pride, maintain an attitude of humility, focus on taking loving actions.
Yes, child. The actions I want to see are more externally focused:
1. Spreading my Word to the unreached: Great Commission.
2. Loving me, loving yourself, and loving others: Great Commandments.
3. Humility: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” This verse emphasizes the importance of humility and selflessness in our interactions with others, highlighting a key principle in Christian living. Philippians 2:3 NIV
CALL TO ACTION
Lord Jesus, here is what I sense are answers to these questions:
1. How shall we then live, based on these truths?
2. What gets in the way of us living the way you want to live?
3. What actions do mature Christ-followers need to take as a result?
The Great Commission and the Great Commandments intersect in a profound manner – they both call for selfless love and devoted service. They are the main framework upon which we, as Christ-followers, are called to base our daily actions. However, knowledge puffs up for the mature Christ-follower, and humility is key. We must avoid spiritual pride.
SELFLESS LOVE AND DEVOTED SERVICE
The Great Commission commands us to spread the love and teachings of Jesus Christ to all corners of the world. Our mission and purpose here on earth is to demonstrate Christ’s love to others through our actions. As the famous quote goes: “Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ at all times, and in all ways; when necessary, use words.” – Unknown (but typically attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)
The Great Commandments, on the other hand, invite us to love God with every fiber of our being and to extend this love to our neighbors. This love is not limited to those within our close circle, but expands to every person we encounter in our journey through life. We must reach out, and not insulate in our comfort zone of fellow believers.
Living out this intersection requires a deep understanding and acceptance of God’s love and grace. It calls for a willingness to surrender our will, embrace humility, and extend compassion and kindness to others. Spiritual pride is the big barriers that stands in our way. Spiritual pride hinders us from living the way God intends us to live – in selfless love and service to Him and others.
Mature Christ-followers must strive to overcome these barriers. This can be achieved through sincere prayer, seeking God’s wisdom, nurturing a strong relationship with Him, and fostering an attitude of humility and service. They must strive to embody the teachings of Jesus Christ, loving God and others without reserve. By doing so, they demonstrate the power of God’s love, fulfilling both the Great Commission and the Great Commandments, and thus living at the Great Intersection of these divine mandates.
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis
ACTIONS
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV
My child, I want my followers to put on the FULL armor, and not overly focus on just one part. Many overly focus on studying my Word as found in the Bible and develop spiritual pride as a result of that knowledge, but are not involved enough in living outThe Great Commandments and fulfilling the Great Commission.
Amen Lord!
Your aspiring servant,
Daniel M.
18 May 2023
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