Final Words
Saying goodbye always seems to prompt important messages.
As heaven prepared to receive its Lord once again, Jesus delivered a message of highest priority to His followers.
"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" —Matthew 28:19, 20.
"Go"
Just cross the room, as Bill Hybels would say. None of us have to go far to find someone who doesn't know and love Jesus. Plant a seed for the Saviour.
"Make disciples"
Discipleship needs an object, a goal, a guru, a rabbi, a master, a God. We go with a message that leads us to a source. To make disciples we need to know well our message and the One who gave it to us. What God has done in our own lives is a powerful entry point.
"Baptizing"
The first step of obedience comes in the form of a public confession of faith. In Jesus' time, as now, it was a sign of commitment and consecration—not a step to be taken lightly. It's part of the process of discipleship, the cost counting.
"Teaching them to obey everything"
We never know just what our role in someone else's spiritual journey might be. The bottom line is the willingness to play whatever part God assigns to us, be it big or small. A word of encouragement or advice, a Bible study, an example, a Sunday School class, a prayer. The "obey everything" implies a progressive journey dedicated to living out our commitment fully.
"I am with you always"
He never sends us where He has not been, or where He is not going to present to complete the part that only He can do. Only He can change a life. Only He can work out His plan for others through us.
"The very end of the age"
This is the time frame within which we work: The age of grace, the time allotted before Jesus returns again with His holy angels to receive the harvest that has come from the obedience to His last command.
The world of the believer revolves around these final words.
As heaven prepared to receive its Lord once again, Jesus delivered a message of highest priority to His followers.
"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" —Matthew 28:19, 20.
"Go"
Just cross the room, as Bill Hybels would say. None of us have to go far to find someone who doesn't know and love Jesus. Plant a seed for the Saviour.
"Make disciples"
Discipleship needs an object, a goal, a guru, a rabbi, a master, a God. We go with a message that leads us to a source. To make disciples we need to know well our message and the One who gave it to us. What God has done in our own lives is a powerful entry point.
"Baptizing"
The first step of obedience comes in the form of a public confession of faith. In Jesus' time, as now, it was a sign of commitment and consecration—not a step to be taken lightly. It's part of the process of discipleship, the cost counting.
"Teaching them to obey everything"
We never know just what our role in someone else's spiritual journey might be. The bottom line is the willingness to play whatever part God assigns to us, be it big or small. A word of encouragement or advice, a Bible study, an example, a Sunday School class, a prayer. The "obey everything" implies a progressive journey dedicated to living out our commitment fully.
"I am with you always"
He never sends us where He has not been, or where He is not going to present to complete the part that only He can do. Only He can change a life. Only He can work out His plan for others through us.
"The very end of the age"
This is the time frame within which we work: The age of grace, the time allotted before Jesus returns again with His holy angels to receive the harvest that has come from the obedience to His last command.
The world of the believer revolves around these final words.
I love this - what a great reminder of the great commission and what it truly means! Excellent reminders. I was going to share my favorite, but I love it ALL!
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