Command 49 : Make Disciples | Day 343

Disciple Nations!

It is a marvel of history: a nation with no outlet to the sea, no great military might, totally surrounded by more powerful nations, rich, and influential, and yet it has escaped the ravages of war for centuries. In a large measure, Switzerland owes its peace and prosperity to the Godly influence of one man: John Calvin. In the 1500s he "stood in the gap" and helped the nation establish a legal system based on the teachings of Christ.

“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it ...” (Ezekiel 22:30).

What are the requirements of one who wants to "stand in the gap?" First, he must be a born-again believer in Christ, Who was in the line of Abraham. God promised Abraham: “In thee shall all nations be blessed" (Galatians 3:8; see also Genesis 12:3). That blessing comes through Christ, Who brought salvation, and through the wisdom He gave us in His teachings. (See Romans 16:25-26.) Thus, we should seek to understand all of the commands of Christ and be a living demonstration of them.

Years ago, I had no real desire to stand in the gap for other nations. However, as I learned Christ's commands and as I met people from other countries, God enlarged my heart as He promised in I John 2:5: “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. ..." God loves the whole world with a perfect love.

Through Christ we can enter into this promise: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Psalm 2:8). When the Holy Spirit caused this verse to stand out to me years ago, I claimed it. Within months, unimagined opportunities opened up to reach schoolchildren who did not know the Lord and to receive facilities through which to offer training in other nations.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Psalm 67: “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. ... And all the ends of the earth shall fear him.”

“... Go ye therefore, and teach [disciple] all nations ..." (Matthew 28:19).

For many years I did not realize what this verse actually meant. I understood it to be saying that we must go and make disciples of people from all nations. However, the passage does mean exactly what it states—we are to teach nations.

I have found that the first step in discipling nations often is serving the leaders with good works carried out by youth and families who radiate the love of Christ and who are living examples of the commands of Christ. The IBLP ministry has been doing this for many years, and now the Lord is opening doors to disciple entire nations!

We live in a world filled with the darkness of sin--a world that desperately needs the light of God's truth. Let's continue to keep these commands before our eyes, so that we can indeed be living examples of God's love to the world as we obey Christ's commission to make disciples of all nations by teaching them Christ's commands!