DAY 7 : Courage to Go

Matthew 28:19–20 (LSB)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Joshua 1:9 (LSB)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be in dread or be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”

As a kid, I remember watching Michael Jordan play basketball. I quickly became a fan. His skill, discipline, and consistency were unlike anything I had ever seen. Night after night, he seemed to do the impossible, yet he made it look routine. It was something to admire. Years later, another player entered the NBA by the name of Kobe Bryant. If you watched him play, you couldn’t help but notice how much his game resembled Jordan’s. Kobe copied Jordan’s footwork, his fadeaway jumper, his workouts, his mentality, and even studied his game

film frame by frame and he wasn’t embarrassed by it; he embraced it. People often asked Kobe, “Why does your game look so much like Michael Jordan’s?” His response has become legendary: “Why would I reinvent the wheel when the blueprint already exists?” Kobe understood something that many of us forget: if someone has already proven that something works, why change it.

Ironically, our culture often tells us not to copy anyone and “yes!”— we should be ourselves; but we celebrate originality and discourage imitation. Yet when it comes to following Jesus, imitation Him is exactly what He calls us to do. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus gives one final command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” In other words, “copy and repeat!”

Jesus spent three years loving people, teaching them God’s Word, walking with them, correcting them, encouraging them, and preparing them to carry His mission. Then He handed them the blueprint letting them know to copy and repeat what he did with them. The mission of the Church hasn’t changed. We are called to copy and repeat the life of Christ by helping people know, grow, and make known who Christ is.

As we conclude these seven days of prayer and fasting, remember that this season wasn’t just about drawing closer to God, it was about being prepared to join Him in His mission.

Prayer and fasting aligns our desires

with Christ. It gives us the courage to step into conversations, serve people intentionally, love those who are different from us, and trust God to work through our obedience.

That is why Joshua’s words are so fitting:

“Be strong and courageous! Do not be in dread or be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.” The same God who commissions, also promises to go with us. We don’t carry out the Great Commission alone. His presence encourages us through it.

Today, don’t overcomplicate what God has asked you to do. You don’t need to reinvent discipleship or discover a new strategy for changing the world. Jesus already gave us the blueprint. Copy and repeat Christ to make disciples.

PrayeR

Father, thank You for giving us the perfect example in Jesus. Help us to faithfully follow His blueprint instead of trying to create our own. Give us the courage to step out in faith, love people intentionally, and make disciples wherever we’re sent. Fill us with boldness and remind us that You are always with us. May our lives reflect Christ so clearly that others are drawn to know You.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Courage to Go | Written By Pastor Omar R.