We can’t do what Jesus did. He is the God-Man who purchased by his own blood the redemption for the souls of everyone who believes on him.
God loves the world, and Jesus died, was buried, and was raised for the sins of the world. We cannot replicate that.
What Can We Do Everyday to Live for Jesus’ Kingdom?
So what can we do? What does it mean for those of us he has redeemed to join his kingdom activity in a way that actually changes lives?
Jesus answered that question after his resurrection and before his ascension:
All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20
Making disciples is the work Jesus left us to do. It is this work that helps the most, showing the people nearest to us the way to new life in Christ and reconciliation with God forever. It is the way we are restored out of the brokenness and despair caused by sin, Satan, and the flesh.
Everyday Joe and Jill Christian
But how does the “Everyday Joe or Jill Christian” engage in this great work?
Interestingly, church leaders want every believer to make disciples, yet many believers view themselves as sidelined from the daily activity of the kingdom.
Many assume their primary job is to pray for and fund the disciple making work of someone else. Prayer and financial support are essential, but thankfully, every believer can make disciples of Jesus without quitting their jobs and moving to a far away place.
If you are a follower of Jesus, you can make disciples right where you are, right now, every single day.
Kingdom Impact Venn Diagram
I’m working on a Venn diagram that I hope illustrates where the kingdom impact opportunities and pitfalls can be found. Here’s the rough sketch from my journal:
This is a work in progress, so as I walk through this, maybe you can help me make the sausage. Feel free to add feedback here:
Love
First, God is love, and without love, our words are a “clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13). I’m sitting in a coffee shop as I write this called “Just Love Coffee.” It’s a great place filled with people rigorously engaged in conversation, laughter, and coffee-drinking. But even Just Love Coffee admits that love is not enough. Coffee helps too.
While we would love for love to be enough, it is not. It’s essential. It’s our primary motivation. But love alone will not change one person’s life. Love without courage leads to inaction, which is love undelivered. And love without wisdom, leads to misguided action, which is love undigestible. But love with courage and wisdom moves a person to look to Jesus and take steps toward him.
Courage
Next is courage. A friend of mine, Dan Darling, says that bravery isn’t being the loudest person in the room. Another friend of mine, Ross Ramsey, recently said that if we’re going to make disciples of Jesus, something has to die. The crucified life may be a metaphor in that none of us will literally die on a cross, but that does not mean death to self is not an actual requirement of disciple making.
This is where courage moves us to act on our sincere love, even at great personal sacrifice. Courage without love, however, is zeal for a cause that overlooks the people most affected. And then courage without wisdom leads to misdirected action that inevitably falls short of making significant change. It’s the proverbial swatting at flies with a hammer. But courage motivated by love and informed by wisdom produces actions that make all the difference.
Wisdom
In the wisdom circle, we find truth, revelation, and understanding that is ultimately known in Jesus himself. Wisdom without love is a “word-only” sentiment of condemnation that wags its finger at the ignorant or insulant, while a wisdom without courage is confident of its trustworthiness but void of meaningful actions that would prove it. Wisdom, however, infused with love and courage engages a person’s mind and answers important questions with winsome and convincing proofs.
The Sweet Spot of Kingdom Impact
Where these three priorities intersect is the sweet spot of kingdom impact. With love, wisdom, and courage, we move into the center of people’s lives empowered with the transforming presence of Jesus and equipped with the Holy Spirit who opens our mouths and our hands to speak and show the Good News of the Gospel.
We can’t do what Jesus did, but marketplace leaders, healthcare professionals, educators, and all kinds of people in every walk of life can join Jesus’ redeeming work as we engage the people God has given to us with love, wisdom, and courage.
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Let’s Work Together
If you, your church, business, or organization wants to take new steps toward kingdom impact, but you’re not quite sure where to begin, I’d love to have a conversation. If you want to serve your employees and clients in a way that helps them and transforms the community, I’d be honored to build solutions with you.