Street Life Worldwide | Urban Missions & Media

45 days down, 320 to go.

Today’s scriptures for my Read the Bible in a Year plan are Exodus 37:1 – 38:31; Matthew 28:1-20; Psalms 34:11-22; Proverbs 9:9-10.

OK let’s go.

1. THE GREAT COMMISSION – Not just conversion, but also transformation
2. THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM - There are no do-over's in life

1. THE GREAT COMMISSION – Conversion is just the beginning
The Great Commission. Pretty much ever practicing and church attending Christian knows this one. Here it is as stated in Matthew.

Matthew 28:19
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

However, just as much a part of the Great Commission, but not as often quoted is Matthew 28:20.

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...

Our job as the church is not just to get people saved, as in converted, but to get people saved, as in transformed. This is the hard part.

Anyone can go down the altar and say a prayer, mean it in their hearts and become a Christian.

What is more difficult, however, is to actually live your life as a Christian.

I first “got saved” when I was only seven years old. I understood what I was doing, and I believed what I was saying.

But as I grew older into adolescence and then young adulthood, I strayed – not in my religious beliefs, but in my lifestyle and behavior.

Why? Perhaps it was because I was so young when I became a Christian, or perhaps because there was no one to disciple me, or be my spiritual mentor, when I entered those teenage years.

Whatever the reason, it happens time and time again with most Christians, at least in America. In fact, if you are reading this, you probably had a similar experience.

You see, having a conversion experience is not enough. That is only the beginning. We must also become disciples of Jesus and live a life of obeying His commandments.

But like I said, this is the hard part. It is so difficult for a person to live a Christian lifestyle. No one can do it on their own. We need each other as fellow followers of Jesus to even just continue to live like followers of Jesus.

The point is that our job as Christians and the church is not just to help other people say the sinner’s prayer and “get saved”, but to help each other become true disciples of Jesus Christ, which means not only getting saved, but also living saved.

Your thoughts?

2. THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM - There are no do-over's in life.

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom...

So does that I have to be afraid of God to be wise?

And what about someone who is not a Christian or does not believe in God? Does that mean they cannot be wise?

Well…..yes….and no….and….

To “fear” God in this context means to have a reverential respect of God, His holiness and His authority.

So if the bible is correct, and if a person does not believe in God and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, then that person is denying God’s authority. He or she is basically saying