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At the end of our worship service each Sunday, we are commissioned out with Jesus’ words in Matthew 28 which I’ll simply summarize as go, make disciples, baptize them, and — here’s the part I want to emphasize this morning:

“…teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

All that I have commanded you. Let those words really sink in. Jesus did not leave anything out here. I believe these words should create some tension for us. How exactly are we supposed to do all that? Is it even realistic?

The reality is that few, if any of us, off the top of our heads, could recite an exhaustive list of everything that Jesus has commanded (although we could hopefully point to some helpful summary passages, such as in Romans 13).

But let me encourage you with this. While learning it all is the ultimate goal — and we have our whole lives to pursue it — you don’t need to know all of it before you begin.

Practically speaking, all you must do is reflect on the things that you know God has clearly commanded you to do in his word yet you currently struggle to do and begin there.

Sincerely commit, with God’s help, to learn something fairly straightforward such as “do all things without grumbling or disputing” or “give thanks in all circumstances.” You will quickly find out just how much you have to learn. But if you stick with it, you will also find out just how much grace God is ready to pour into your life to enable you to do the things he has commanded.

This leads us to our need to confess our sins.

Prayer of Confession

Father, you have given us the astounding opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from him how to lead lives filled with love, joy, and peace. Yet we are often too busy, distracted, and worried to do this.

Please forgive us.

In your Son, you have given us the “pearl of great price” that ought to lead to us joyfully giving up all things just to have more of him. Yet we value other things more.

Please forgive us.

You stand ready to pour out your grace and power to those whose hearts are fully yours. Yet we don’t trust you to come through when it really counts and so we rely on ourselves.

Please forgive us.

Now, by your Spirit, would you search our hearts in this moment of silent confession and show us the areas of our lives where you’re calling us to trust you more…