My dad used to tell me, “Whenever you see the word, therefore, stop and ask what it’s there for.” In Matthew 28, Jesus declares that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. Then He says, “Therefore, go and make disciples.”

When the disciples heard those words, they already knew exactly what Jesus meant. For more than three years, they had lived as His disciples. They had left their ordinary lives to follow Him. They walked with Him, listened to Him, asked questions, shared meals, and watched Him interact with people from every walk of life.

The disciples witnessed extraordinary events. They saw Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, calm storms, feed thousands, and even raise the dead. They experienced God’s power in ways most of us can scarcely imagine.

But discipleship wasn’t about chasing the next miracle.

Between those extraordinary moments were countless ordinary ones: walking dusty roads, sharing meals, serving others, asking questions, and learning to trust Jesus one day at a time. The same God who moved powerfully on the mountaintop was present on the ordinary road that led there. When Jesus said, “Go and make disciples,” He was essentially saying, “What I have done with you, now go and do for others.” The disciples didn’t need a definition of discipleship. They had spent three years experiencing it and had now become the disciple-makers.

I fear many of us spend our lives waiting for dramatic moments with God. We want mountaintop experiences, miraculous breakthroughs, and unforgettable stories. We should absolutely pray bold prayers, believe for miracles, and expect God to move. Jesus still heals, restores, delivers, and transforms lives today. But the goal of discipleship is not to experience a miracle every day. The goal is to walk with Jesus every day. The promise of following Christ is not that we will never face sickness, hardship, opposition, or suffering (please excuse the double negative). The promise is that, through it all, Jesus is with us (Matthew 28:20). Just as the disciples learned to follow Him through both the miraculous and the mundane, we are called to do the same.

Reflection Questions:

• Am I pursuing Jesus, or am I only pursuing what He can do for me?
• Where is God inviting me to trust Him in the ordinary moments of life?
• Who has helped me follow Jesus, and who might God be calling me to help follow Him?