Gracious God of steadfastness, bless the life and needs of this dear reader in all that they face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Matthew 28: 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Two of the Gospels have the Great Commission, but Matthew's is more direct. This ending to Matthew's Gospel is honest about how the disciples didn't know quite what to make of this risen Lord. They knew to worship, but even in and after the worship, Matthew says, "some doubted." Could that have meant it was that feeling of "I still can't believe He's alive?" sort of feeling most of us would have had had we seen him or if we get a surprise blessing and we don't believe we got it? Or, could it be that some didn't quite have the faith to believe that the power of God could raise up a dead man, including the One whom they had thought to be the Messiah?
Yet, even in the doubt comes Jesus with something for them and us to do! The job description of this task begins with the authority that Jesus has received from God about this task. And with that same authority, we are told to "Go." That is already more than some of us are doing. We seem to sometimes major in "Stop." Go is a command found in the Bible in several places in several Calls that God makes to people and it's usually preceeded by the words, "Get up." Go is a command to action and activity. It implies a constant movement forward and upward; not complacency and contentment with the status quo. Go! Our little grandson, Liam, understood the word "go" at a very early age and it was one that he liked. Add "bye-bye" to it and you've got a friend for life! Jesus expects us to go. Go where? To all nations, with this task: Make disciples. Not just beleivers, but disciples; those who receive, accept and then model their lives on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Our churches are filled with church-attenders but few disciples. We have a lot of supervisors, but few workers. Disciples are those who not only receive a Bible, they open it, study it and live it. The result of devotion to Christ will lead to changed lives and a commitment to make more disciples. They not only learn about Christ, they want to share it with others, all the while living their lives committed to Christ Jesus.
What about that awesome closing? Jesus says, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." What a closing, what a promise!
PRAYER: Jesus, stay close to me and in me. Help me to make disciples. Help me to be a good teacher. Help me to be obedient. I ask this in Your precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
PS. Later this morning, Betty Rigsbee undergoes a heart procedure at Harlingen Medical Center, please keep her in prayer.
