Today's Verse "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." - Matthew 28:19 NKJV Devotion These questions often cross my mind. How come most professing Christians don't even appear to be bothered or hurt when considering the millions that are dying without Christ every day, every hour, every minute? How is it possible for people to walk out of a church service and immediately switch on secular FM music in their cars and drive away with a smile, commenting what a great service that was, without any reverence or gratitude for such a great salvation? How is it possible for someone to experience the forgiveness and liberating power of our Lord and then be so caught up with self-centeredness? Yes, it is possible because of our pride and our blindness to the extent of our sinfulness. When you recognize the depths to which you have fallen, it will make your heart cry out to the Lord for mercy and grace. And when He showers His grace upon you, you will find that His grace is the mighty power to set you free from the power of sin. This experience will break you and humble you, while at the same time, filling you with immense love for the lost and a burden to see them experience the same grace you did. Instead, "bless me Lord, prosper me Lord, heal me Lord, keep me happy Lord," seem to be the more popular prayers these days, whilst thousands suffer in poverty, pain and rejection. Could it be that the church is to blame? Could it be that the church has lost its purpose and is caught up with filling seats and increasing in size, running well organized programs and seminars designed to maintain people's interest in the church? The church seems to have lost sight of Jesus' command to go into all the world and preach the good news. The world equates church size to church growth. God equates number of disciples to church growth because He commanded, "Go and make disciples." Sadly, most professing Christians are yet to become true disciples of Christ (as defined in Luke 14:26-27, 33), because if they truly understood their unworthiness before God, the value and the preciousness of what Jesus has done for them, they would then realize He is truly that pearl for which the farmer sold all he had. They will, by their new nature, be compelled to share the gospel with the lost. A believer attending church doesn't bring about church growth. Only disciples reproduce and bring about church growth. When you obey the Great Commission and go into all the world, Jesus said, it will bring about persecution and suffering. It will take courage, boldness, and unwavering faith. Effective evangelism will take disciples who are dead to self and are one with the Lord. It will take disciples who spend intimate time with the Lord and are not at all attracted to what the world considers success. Disciples give their whole selves.