Matthew 28:30 | “…[teach] them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

‘Truth don’t care who it offend.’

First, let me get this out the way: I have zero interest in dissecting anyone’s belief system, theology, or way of living and calling them liars when something they believe stands in opposition (or stands slightly to the left or right) of what I believe. As far as vibes go, that is not one of them. The truth may not care who it offends, but people should. Especially God’s people.

What I am interested in is increasing my understanding in pursuit of The Truth. This is not a Paul Pierce stan page. I’m talking about the truth truth! Jesus has a better crossover, He’s more  consistent from the deep, and has more impressive victories. Ok… not Ray Allen either (don’t worry about it if you didn’t get it). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).” Jesus is The Truth.

I am interested in increasing my understanding in my pursuit of God the Father. This isn’t a pursuit like God is running from me—quite the opposite. God is always seeking me out to offer me His best; and you too! I’m just limited in my understanding of Him. I will spend my whole life seeking to know Him better, knowing that I’ll never achieve full grasp of His truth and his way until after this life.

Part of this mission God has given me, and this Great Commission He has given all of us, is to spread His word—to teach truth. “…teach [the disciples we make] to obey everything [Jesus] has commanded [us].” This doesn’t mean we all have to be preachers (though we’ve all got a sermon and story to tell). We are called to make disciples. Making disciples is a life on life thing. It is taking the spiritual DNA God gave us when He gave us a new heart, through Jesus, and imprinting it upon another person. 

‘Do as I say, not as I do.’

Teaching truth, in the disciple making lifestyle, cannot consist of simply preaching at people, throwing scriptures at their heads, and criticizing people’s theology over the internet. Jesus said to “teach them to obey everything I have commanded YOU.” The truth is lived. I teach others to obey through my own obedience to the truth I have been taught. Like the Paul said to a group of his disciples, “…whatever you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me, practice those things (Philippians 4:9).” 

“What did you SEE me do? Ok, then do that.” As a parent, this reality has hit me pretty hard. I grew up in the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ era. I saw many Christian adults do things that did not line up with that they taught, believed, or said “amen” to. As if that wasn’t confusing enough, that era of adults didn’t owe us any explanations either. So here I am, stuck with this dichotomy of what I have been taught to do and what I have seen done. Not passing this ideology and mentality on to the next generation has proven to be a little more difficult than I once imagined. As result, I apologize to my children.

When we mess up, we have to fess up. Let the truth stand without the corruption of our coverups! One of the reasons it’s so difficult for many to buy into this whole Christianity thing is because so many of us fail to look like Christ. Then, when it gets pointed out that we might have missed the mark, suddenly we’re ophthalmologists—finding it necessary to surgically remove small specks from the eyes of our onlookers. We try to legislate our beliefs instead of simply living them out. Demanding, rather than demonstrating. If we are truly going to teach our disciples to obey the things Jesus command US, then we need to find ourselves obeying the things Jesus commanded us first. 

I know… I know… that feels a bit harsh. Its a lot to ask, but it’s what Jesus commands. Not to worry though; this isn’t something we’re supposed to do on our own… as if we could. There are two important things Jesus pointed out while giving His disciples this Great Commandment: 

1. I’ve got the power.
2. I will be with you.

‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’

Matthew 28:18-20

‘I’m a star. Sheriff badge.’ _{– Onika T. Maraj}

We are deputes. The mark of the cross is our badge. Our shared suffering with Christ is the beat we walk. However, rather than handing out citations and making arrests, our focus is on showing the way, sharing the truth, and living the life. We protect the vulnerable and serve those in need. 

Jesus has the power. Through His Holy Spirit, who is with us, we too have that same power. We can be confident, even in our personal shortcomings, because He is with us. When we rest with and submit to the fact that we cannot be good on our own, and every good and perfect thing we have and do comes from God, we can walk boldly in the truth. Then, just like Paul, we can say to others, “whatever truth you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me: do like me. When I move, you move: __________.” (y’all not saved lol)

Practice those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy.

Teach, give, say, and do the same.

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Keith Goosby II is the founding minister of NET Church. He has served in ministry for over 20 years, in various capacities–including music, social media management, teaching, preaching, consulting, and leadership. Keith’s first church experience as a child was a home church. Since then, he has attended and served at churches sizing from just a few to over 10,000–of various denominations and affiliations. As NET Church is being planted, Keith continues to serve at his Dallas home church, Golden Gate MBC, in Dallas, TX, under the leadership of Minister Vincent T. Parker. Keith is married and currently lives in the Dallas area with his wife and three sons.

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