Go Therefore

Sometimes I think that we as Christians forget Jesus’ final command to His disciples.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 28:18-19

Jesus says that ‘All authority in heaven and on earth’ has been given to Him.  Then follows with a straightforward command: ‘Go.’   This command seems pretty simple and it is very simply done, but then why do so many Christians fall short in this area.  Do we somehow think that our image in front of an unbelieving world should take precedence over God’s commandments?  I think that even as Christians, we have far too many treasures on this earth.  Indeed, we are still sinners, but I pray that God will help us to reach out to an unbelieving world.  In heaven we will be able to praise God and to encourage fellow heirs just like we are able to on earth, but we will no longer be able to witness to unbelievers.

People are many times hesitant to evangelize, because of their fear of man.  Even though this is a sinful fear to have, Jesus gives us a promise coupled with this command: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  He is with us in everything.  Let’s seek to evangelize, to share God’s word with the world.  God has the desire that all men would come to believe in his name.  Why don’t we?  If we did we would certainly be working this desire out.  So then a challenge  from Jesus for today: “Go Therefore and make disciples of all nations.” You might not have a chance tomorrow . . .

Perspectives

Perspective is really the determining factor of our entire outlook on life. Simple problems seems like the end of the world in one perspective, but the end of the world brings great joy to some. The joy of the Lord can only be possessed by obtaining the right perspective. We know that the Lord has provided the believer with all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). No matter what our circumstances, we can have greatest joy through the knowledge that our God is far greater than anything with which the world may assault us. James gives us a great example of the manner in which we should handle trials. James 1:2-3 says:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Little shifts make big differences.

As I was typing a message to one of my friends this morning I suddenly found that the words I was typing did not make sense. I know the keyboard like the back of my hand, but something had gone wrong. All that had happened was a hand shift in my right hand. I had moved it over just one key to the right. ,u semtemce was gobberosj (my sentence was gibberish). The Christian walk then, may be compared to typing on a keyboard. God has given us the straight and narrow path to follow, like the little notches on the ‘f’ and ‘j’ on the keyboard. When we do not keep our hands in the right position on the keyboard, the words we type will not make sense. It may seem to us like we are typing the right words, going through the right motions, but we are off. The same is true with the Christian life. I our focus shifts even the slightest amount off our savior, Jesus Christ, our fruit will suffer. Deuteronomy5:22 says:

So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Let’s rely on the Lord today to keep on the straight and narrow path so that we may glorify God by our fruit.

Dependance and Fruit

Lately, God has been teaching me to enter into complete and total dependence on Him for my well being. It hasn’t been any one circumstance, just a combination of circumstances. Dependence on fun, friends, or achievement are really trivial. Fun lasts for a time, but only for a time. Friends are amazing gifts from God, but sometimes friends drift and if the friendship isn’t dependent on God, then it will slowly fade away. Achievement is not inherently wrong, but it is wrong if we are not achieving to the glory of God, if we are achieving for ourselves. Dependence will make us like Christ. It will rid us of the sins that we have lodged in our hearts. 1 John 14:15-17 says:

 

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

Fellowship

    Until I came to the University of Minnesota, I had somewhat of a limited view on the satisfaction that Christian fellowship brings. Spending time with believers is refreshing whatever we may be doing, but I was already aware of that. What I’ve discovered in Minneapolis is that the more God-focused the fellowship is, the more satisfying. It is so refreshing to sit down and just hang out with a group of guys and not talk about nothing. Sure, we might joke around sometimes, but I can’t think of a time when the gospel hasn’t been brought up. Praying together at 2 am instead of playing video games, opening up God’s word together instead of opening up a comic book or watching online movies is so much more fulfilling than any of the trivial pleasures this world has to offer. And it creates a bond that is stronger that any of the world’s weapons.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says:

Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

1 John 1:7 says

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

God has been so good to us and will continue to be good to us everyday.  I am so encouraged by the fellowship I have had with believers up here, it is unlike anything I have ever experienced before.  Being in an environment of like-minded and mature believers all striving together for the glory of God, witnessing his gospel to the unsaved is something unlike any other human friendship.

The Word of the Lord

Psalm 119:105 is a passage that is familiar too many believers.

Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Some of us have known these words since first grade Sunday school, but I would assert that very few of us have a real comprehension as to the implications of this verse. This verse implies that our entire nature should be directed by God’s instructions.
The entire world has been called to submit themselves to God’s law. Those who do not submit to God’s instructions on salvation will be punished. For believers following the word of God should bring us joy, because we have already tasted the goodness of God’s Grace. Are we loving God’s word today? Are we like the Psalmist in Psalm 119:47 who proclaims:

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

I pray that believers would learn to love God’s Word. If we love the Lord it will be easy. Jesus says in John 14:15 :

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Do you love our Lord? Do you seek Him daily? Then obey his commandments and you will find Joy.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:30