An Example Worth Following

What was life like for Jesus on a day-to-day basis? Jesus was constantly on the move, meeting people wherever He could with the aim of sharing eternal life. Wherever He went, He met with constant opposition.

Jesus could have been living in heaven, surrounded by beauty and glory and by beings who appreciated and served Him.

He could have remained with His Father and enjoyed the respect and worship of the angelic host. But instead, He dedicated His life to serving others —in obscurity. He toiled in desert places, enduring extreme heat and dirty, harsh conditions. He labored for souls in markets, in cities, and in villages that dotted the countryside. Jesus would not stay in heaven if coming to earth meant He could save us.

He was a missionary, and His life was driven by a Spirit-inspired missionary zeal to bring salvation to as many as possible.

Now that Jesus has returned to heaven, He looks to His church to manifest that same zeal and commitment to the work of soul winning.

Jesus gave up all else and committed His life to sharing heaven, and He didn’t regret that decision. He suffered on the cross and despised its shame “for the joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2) —the joy of seeing His people redeemed for all eternity. Jesus calls us to enter into His work of reaching the lost. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” is the commission He gave to His church (Matthew 28:19).

The final gospel message to go the world is to be proclaimed to “those who dwell on the earth —to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6).

On every street and in every city, there are people waiting to learn of Jesus and His saving grace and truth. Every follower of Jesus is invited —and will be empowered— to share God’s transforming Word in preparation for the second coming of Christ. Most will not be called to share Jesus in the desert wilderness.

But all are called to share Jesus.