If you have been attending church for any length of time, odds are that you not only know the Great Commission but have heard multiple sermons based upon it. I know in my few years of preaching, it certainly has not been neglected. It is a favorite “go-to” due to the centrality of the message as well as how often we need the gentle nudge of encouragement to share our faith.

If you are not familiar with it, the Great Commission is the final words spoken by Jesus to the 11 disciples found at the very end of the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew quotes Jesus as saying, “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.”

There is something really interesting that happens when this verse is translated from the original Greek into English, and it happens across all the major translations even though there is some debate among scholars over it. The interesting thing is this: the Greek word “poreuomai” is translated to “go.”

So why is that interesting and why does it matter? Here’s why: the Greek word translated to “go” is not written in the command form in the original writing. Simply put, as it is written, Jesus didn’t so much give a command to go. A more literal way of translating it instead of “go” would be to say, “as you are going.”

Over the years, I have heard many sermons, seminars and teachings emphasizing how we need to go. How we can’t just stay here (wherever here happens to be) because we have to intentionally GO! Now practically and logically, there is much truth in this. It is actually very difficult to share the Gospel with others if we never leave our couch or pew.

But if “go” isn’t necessarily a command, what might Jesus be instructing us to do? “As you are going” points us toward an understanding that it is in the course of our going that we are to disciple others. Sharing the Gospel and discipling others doesn’t need to be this grand, formal event. I believe Jesus is calling us to be doing it as part of our normal daily lives. That we would be intentional in looking for opportunities as they come up in the course of our day to teach others about the Kingdom and the King. Isn’t that the way Jesus did ministry?

Jesus masterfully and perfectly saw the opportunities that presented themselves while He sat at the dinner table, made a stop at a well, and took a nap on a boat. Organized events are great and God certainly uses them for His Kingdom, but we are given opportunities every day to share our faith and disciple others. “As you are going” this week, I pray that you experience the joy of fulfilling the Great Commission each and every day!