21 Days of Prayer for the Lost: Day 2

This familiar passage is a great place to begin our 21 days of prayer and fasting for the lost and our “Each One, Win One” campaign for 2026. These are some of the last words that Jesus spoke to his disciples turned into apostles before his ascension. These words are both the identity and the job description for the Church which would soon be born through apostolic preaching and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
   
When we look at this passage, we see one command sandwiched between two promises. Jesus's statement, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me," carries an implicit promise.  This promise states that nothing can thwart Jesus’ intention to bring his gospel to all peoples everywhere. This promise connects to other assurances found in scripture, like Isaiah 54:17, which says, “no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,” and Romans 8:37, declaring, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

While it may seem that this passage contains multiple commands, when examining the original language, it becomes clear that there is a single imperative: "to make disciples."  All the rest of the verbs provide the framework for how we carry out the command. How do we make disciples?

First, we go. We don’t wait for would-be disciples to come to us. We get out of our comfort zone. We go not just to people we feel at home with, we go to Samaria and then to “all nations (ethnicities)”.

Second, we baptize! We urge new converts to make a public declaration through baptism that they have totally identified themselves with Jesus.

Third, we teach! We show the new disciples the vital importance of developing an intimate relationship with Jesus, through studying his Word and through prayer. We begin by reminding them of Jesus’ words in John 15:10 – “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and abide in his love.”

The last promise is the most precious and serves as the guarantee that, if we are willing to go, we cannot fail. “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” When we go to make disciples, wherever we go, whatever difficulties and dangers we may encounter, Jesus – the very one who declared “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” – will be with us.

Things to pray for today:

• Courage to accept the commission that Jesus has graciously given us
• Opportunities to make disciples through going, baptizing and teaching
• Assurance that Jesus is always with us

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.