“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, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —Matthew 28:19-20
God’s mission is global in its reach and gracious in its invitation. Every believer is called to participate in making disciples—whether through faithful personal evangelism, prayerful support of missions, or quiet, consistent witness in the ordinary rhythms of daily life. In fulfilling the Great Commission, our gaze shifts outward. We exist not merely to enjoy fellowship with God in private, but to help others come to know and love Him as well.
A Journey Marked by Hope
The word “advancing” carries within it the sense of purposeful movement toward a destination. Like a hiker pressing through dense forest, trusting the promise of open vistas ahead, we as Christians walk a journey whose end is sure. Life is no meaningless cycle or random path. We are created to dwell forever in the presence of the living God—to worship, to know Him deeply, and to rejoice eternally in His goodness.
Yet we still walk in the present age, where winter’s chill mingles with fleeting joys, where suffering and sin press close, and where questions of worth and significance can weigh heavily on the heart. In this tension, Scripture lifts our eyes to what is to come:
“‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” (Revelation 21:3-5)
Between this glorious promise and the pain still present in our world, we are called to our Master’s business. Our individual journeys find their true meaning within His greater story. Over time, the Holy Spirit shapes us to resemble Christ more closely in thought, value, and deed—not merely for our own refinement, but for the sake of others and the glory of God.
As the Apostle Paul reminds us:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
Our growth in Christ-likeness is never solitary; the Church and the watching world are blessed by it.
Understanding God’s Call
Discerning the good works God has prepared can feel unclear amid life’s decisions—career, family, daily choices. God’s call unfolds on three gracious levels.
First, there is the call that binds every Christian:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… and love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
This foundational command directs all we do.
Second, God grants each of us a unique vocation—a particular way of living out that love through our gifts, opportunities, and spheres of influence. As varied as the members of a body, we serve with the gifts the Spirit distributes “for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). In this calling, we follow Christ in ways that reflect both our shared faith and our distinct design.
Third, God calls us into the tasks and responsibilities of each day—caring for family, fulfilling work duties, offering small kindnesses, or simply stewarding the ordinary hours. These may not always feel connected to the grand mission, yet they hold dignity when done unto the Lord. Even the enslaved believers in the Roman world were invited to labor “as to Christ… doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:5-7). When we view time as belonging to God, even interruptions and unglamorous duties become opportunities for worship.
Importantly, who we are called to be precedes what we are called to do. Until we rest securely in the truth that we are God’s beloved handiwork—His delight—we may chase tasks that merely prop up our sense of worth. True obedience flows from identity received as a gift.
The Church: God’s Handiwork Together
The “we” of Ephesians 2:10 is profoundly corporate. The Church, though imperfect and often messy, is God’s own creation, formed for good works. When we love God together—through worship, obedience, and testimony—we become a dwelling place for His presence (Ephesians 2:22). When we love others, we proclaim the rescuing grace of Christ to all nations and nurture one another toward maturity in Him.
The first disciples, once fearful, were transformed by the resurrection. The risen Christ so filled them with hope that they boldly advanced the Gospel, even at great cost. Their life together testified that knowing the living Jesus and sharing His love mattered more than anything else.
We walk this same path today. Pressures surround us, yet we do not journey alone. In moments when the Church lives out love for God and neighbor, the presence of the living God shines through. Joy rises. Worship overflows. And we remember afresh the words of our Lord: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
May we, by His grace, embrace this calling with humble confidence. For in advancing Christ’s Kingdom, we discover the deepest purpose of our lives—and point a weary world toward the One who makes all things new.