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All of us want to grow in Christ, but there’s a price to pay. Below we find three encounters with Jesus in which He gave a specific command and then told the person to go and do it.
While considering these three commands for years, I’ve realized that Jesus also gave me these three commands (several times), and my obedience has opened a deeper relationship with Christ and increased my anointing to serve Him.
What are the three “Go” commands you will be asked? Will you obey?
First “Go”
Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more” (John 8:11, NLT).
The context of this verse is a woman caught in adultery. Jesus said to her, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” Neither did Jesus condemn her, but He also said, “Go and sin no more.”
First John 2:16 indicates three general categories of sin — impurity, materialism/possessions, and pride. This first “Go” deals with impurity. Jesus forgave but didn’t compromise with her continuing to sin.
In a sense, Jesus is saying, “Don’t do it again.”
The blessing of the New Testament reveals the Spirit within empowering our obedience; we aren’t on our own. But releasing the Spirit means obedience.
Question: What is your sin that you must “Go” and never do again?
Second “Go”
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21).
The second “Go” deals with possessions. A rich young ruler had asked Jesus what he needed to inherit eternal life.
Jesus gave a simple command to “Go” and sell everything with the ensuing blessing of perfection. It’s a mistranslation of “perfect” to consider one act of obedience and then thinking, “I’ve got it, look at me, I’m perfect.”
Obedience to this command would have enabled the rich young ruler to begin a path of following Jesus. How difficult it is to sell everything, and yet we all will be asked to do something (perhaps not selling everything), but a sacrifice of what we can’t afford, having faith in God’s provision.
I’ve received lots of grievous comments whenever I say, “Overcoming the lust of possessions means tithing.” I don’t think you can fully embrace Jesus without this step.
A direct question: Do you tithe?
Third “Go”
Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour (Matthew 8:13).
A Roman officer’s servant was sick. Jesus said, “Go. You believed, so it’s done.”
This is obedience before proof. Faith doesn’t dwell in the world of sight or knowing for certain; it’s a step of faith, realizing it could be foolishness to others. Consider if the Roman officer arrived home and said, “My servant is healed,” even though he wasn’t, and yet that’s the faith of this man.
Active faith is humble, not pride-filled. It keeps walking with Jesus, staying dependent upon God.
Question: What definitive step do you need to take, without regard to what others think?
That’s it. The three “Go” commands of Jesus: holiness, God’s provision, and taking steps of faith. If you do these three things, you will be perfected for His service.
Go! Go! Go!