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Complete this statement: “I go to _____.” One of the first answers that likely come to your mind is “I go to work.”  According to Matthew 28:16-20, believers make disciples in their "going." While one can rightly understand the call to “go” as traveling overseas to reach nations who have never heard the name of Jesus, going to make disciples can and should be done locally as well—even at your place of employment.

This is an area that I know that I can still grow in.  It is all too easy for me to simply go to work, get the job done, and go home—rinse, dry, and repeat the following days without thinking of the people I work with. Yet God has been convicting me to think of ways that I can make disciples and even develop a culture of discipleship right where I work; especially focusing on making disciples of those who have not yet placed their faith in Christ. 

Here are three specific ways that I am seeking to faithfully obey God’s command to make disciples as I go about my job.

1) Having the right mindset: To be an effective disciple-maker, I must make sure that I am seeing the world as God sees it. Dwelling on and renewing my mind in God’s Word is an essential part of this, but prayer is another important aspect and is personally one I tend to underemphasize. To become more faithful in this area, I have been striving to pray each day before I go to work asking, “God, help me to be aware of the needs of those around me, physical but especially spiritual needs. I ask that you give me opportunities to share your hope with my co-workers and that I would be bold in proclaiming your name when those opportunities arise.”

2) Being intentional: Believers can indeed demonstrate their identity as children of God through their attitude and work ethic. While these things may cause someone to ask, “Why does your life seem different than mine?”, the Great Commission cannot be fulfilled through character alone. As I seek to make disciples at my job, I realize that I must go beyond “being a good Christian” or not doing what the world does, and instead actively build into the lives of my co-workers. Even something as simple as asking a coworker, “How are you doing today?”, showing that I care for them, can lead to future conversations and interactions (even outside of work) where I can share the Gospel.

3) Praying for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ at their jobs: While it is good to pray broadly that other believers have opportunities to make disciples in all their “going,” I have been convicted in specifically praying for my church family as they would seek to make disciples in their work context. We all have the unique ability to reach our own “nations” (i.e., people groups) through our place of employment; with the assurance that God is always with you.  

It is my prayer that you are a light to those you work with and that God will use you to make disciples. I would humbly ask that you pray the same for me!