Sometimes I look at the landscape of my life and see nothing but wide open fields. No mountains or valleys, no beachfront properties. Just wide open fields that span the horizon as far as my eyes can follow without a hint of wind in sight.
Do you ever feel that way? You realize that you’re not getting married anytime soon. You’re not about to have a baby. You’ve already graduated from college and have what you thought was your dream job. You’re part of a good church. Life is good, or at least good enough. You’re not going anywhere anytime soon, and the future looks–well–there.
You could set up new goals. You could strive for more, and if you read enough books they’ll convince you you must. But really, is this what life is all about? Is it about setting up new markers and achieving goals? Is it about climbing mountains and jumping off cliffs?
Or is looking at wide open fields enough? Is bigger really better? Is more really . . . more?
Jesus asked his followers to do simply one thing in life. He didn’t ask for bigger churches or a larger personal following. He didn’t ask for greater personal significance through the work that we do. He didn’t ask for better returns on our investments. He was interested in just one thing.
More disciples. More followers of Him.
We don’t need mountains and cliffs and temporary bliss. We don’t need to be known or accomplish great things. We really are called to simply do one thing: make disciples.
We are all looking at wide open fields, and they’re white with harvest, waiting to be picked. What is your plan for making disciples this year? When all is said and done, that’s all that will matter. Everything else will fade.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).
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