Jesus’s ministry leaves us with two main commands, or callings, on our daily lives.

This is a dramatic oversimplification, but my intent here is not to discount the wisdom Jesus shares in countless parables and lessons. That wisdom is incredibly valuable to our Christian lives.

Instead, my aim in highlighting these two callings is to show their priority (of highest or first importance) in our ministry. If we don’t get these two right, we stunt both our personal sanctification and evangelistic mission.

We find these two callings throughout all four gospels. They are remarkably simple. They apply to everyone. And they are always in the same order.

First, follow me. Second, go.

“Follow Me”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow me [be my disciple], he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continuously.” (Matthew 16:24, ISV)

Our primary calling in life is to follow Jesus. For the twelve disciples and many others in his ministry, it was a physical calling, one they followed with their footsteps. It was a command to literally leave everything behind and walk with him.

The calling of follow me for us today is no less physical and no less radical.

“Go (As  You Go)”

“Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28, 19-20, ISV)

As you go. That’s our second calling. Disciple, baptize, and teach as you go.

So go. Go to the nations. Go wherever your God-given passions and talents lead. Go to Delhi or go to Deloitte. Go work in business or healthcare or education or entertainment.

Go work at a church or an orphanage. Go work in a cubicle or a construction site.

Go somewhere that your skills are valuable and do something you’re good at doing.

I’m not sure it matters that much where you go. As long as you go somewhere, and wherever you go, you take the gospel with you.

And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 – Colossians 3:17 (ISV)

In your going, wherever you go, take the gospel with you. Preach it through your excellence. Preach it through your hard work. Preach it through sacrificial care for coworkers. And yes, preach it through the words you speak.

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