The Command We Forgot
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:18–20)
Most Christians know Jesus said this.
But have you ever really felt the weight of it?
This isn’t a suggestion.
It’s not a bonus mission for pastors, missionaries, or bold evangelists.
It’s a command from the Son of God Himself to you.
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Let me ask you something?
Can you be a true follower of Christ if you never share your faith?
Can you call yourself a disciple if you never answer His call to “go”?
Why do so many believers, maybe even you, live their faith quietly, cautiously, afraid to open the door to deeper conversations?
The truth is, many people call themselves Christians but have no idea that Jesus’ mission was always to make disciples, not silent believers.
So here’s the real question to sit with as we begin this series:
Are you living the life Jesus called you to live?
What Does Jesus Want Everyone to Become?
Let me take you back to one of the most powerful scenes in Scripture.
Jesus is walking along the Sea of Galilee.
He sees two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew
casting their nets into the water.
They’re ordinary men.
Hardworking. Focused on their craft.
Probably thinking more about the day’s catch than anything spiritual.
And then Jesus speaks.
“Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Mark 1:17)
It says they immediately left their nets and followed Him.
This is what Jesus wants:
Not just people who believe from a distance,
But people who drop their nets leave behind old priorities and follow Him into a new purpose.
Later, He calls James and John
And they, too, leave their father and their boat without hesitation.
Luke 9:23 reminds us, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
To be a disciple is to become a student of Jesus,
to let Him shape you, guide you, and teach you every day.
So ask yourself?
What metaphorical nets are you clinching to?
What would it look like for you to drop them and follow Jesus, not just in belief, but in practice?
How might your life change if you embraced the same radical, immediate trust that those fishermen showed on the shore?
Disciple or Christian? Why Do We Separate Them?
Why do so many people today say, “I’m a Christian,” but never call themselves a disciple?
Why does that word disciple feel heavier, more intense, maybe even uncomfortable?
Is it because we’ve been taught there’s a difference?
That you can be a “Christian” without fully following Jesus?
That discipleship is optional, an upgrade path for the extra-devoted?
Let’s pause and remember:
The word Christian only appears three times in the New Testament
and it was a nickname given by outsiders (Acts 11:26).
But the word disciple?
It appears almost 300 times because that’s how Jesus Himself described His followers.
He never says, “Here’s one category for believers, and another for disciples.”
He simply calls people to follow.
So the real question isn’t, “Am I a Christian or a disciple?”
The real question is:
Am I actively following Jesus, or just identifying with His name?
Am I letting Him shape my life daily, or just fitting Him into my comfort zones?
Am I living as His student, or just claiming the title without the practice?
This isn’t about forcing anyone to accept a label.
It’s about inviting you to look honestly at your walk,
because building true convictions means wrestling through these questions yourself.
Jesus didn’t call people to belong to a category.
He called them to follow Him.
And that call is still ringing out today.
Writer’s Reflection
Before I really got into this study,
there were so many things I didn’t know
even though I called myself a Christian.
One of the biggest eye-openers?
The term disciple.
I had heard it before, sure.
But I thought it only applied to Jesus’ twelve
original disciples who followed Him in the flesh.
I never realized it was a word meant for me.
Looking back, I know why I misunderstood:
I simply wasn’t reading the Word deeply for myself.
Most people I meet today are the same
they only know what they’ve heard,
and what they’ve heard is often wrapped in layers of belief passed down, not necessarily rooted in Scripture.
That’s what makes this so challenging.
Beliefs are powerful.
People will die for what they believe.
But here’s the hard truth:
What happens when belief and truth collide?
That’s a question for another day,
but what I’ve learned is this:
As I’ve grown in my faith,
I’ve moved off milk and started eating solid food (Hebrews 5:1214).
I now see that discipleship isn’t some advanced level of Christianity; It’s the foundation.
I mess up more than I’d like.
I stumble, I fall, I get frustrated.
But my eyes are open now.
Jesus has called me to follow
And following Him means helping others follow, too.
Remnant Reflection
Am I following Jesus as a disciple or just identifying as a Christian?
Where have I held back from fully surrendering to His call?
What steps can I take this week to sit at His feet, learn, and grow?
Who in my life might God be asking me to help follow Him?
Gardener’s Corner: Clarity & Focus Tea Blend
This week’s fresh recipe:
1 tsp Gotu kola (sharpens focus, supports clarity)
1 tsp Holy basil (adapts to stress, grounds the spirit)
½ tsp Lemon verbena (brightens mood, refreshes the heart)
Steep 8–10 minutes and drink while journaling your thoughts on discipleship.
Thank you for walking this journey with me in The Joseph Journal.
This is Part One of a multi-part discipleship series,
meant to help build understanding and deepen convictions
not just for new or potential disciples, but for long-time disciples as well.
The goal is simple but powerful:
to share this message with the world!
So if today’s message connected with you,
please like, share, and tag someone who needs to hear this.
Let’s help spread the truth, encourage hearts,
and walk this road of faith together.
Joseph I. Smith
Curious why you didn't include Luke 14? Not at all that it is wrong not to, but it does cut the heart deeply and sets up the standard for following him.