Matthew 28:16-20
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Great Commission
16 Now the eleven disciples B)’>worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, D)’>in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 F)’>make disciples of H)’>baptizing them K)’>to observe all that M)’>I am with you always, to A)’>will be proclaimed throughout the whole world C)’>to all nations, and A)’>a great multitude that no one could number, C)’>clothed in white robes, with E)’>“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
As Christians we are fond of saying we are looking forward to the return of Christ. If this is true, it would seem that we would be working hard for His return. You may ask, what can we do to bring Jesus back? He was very clear about that. He commissioned us to make disciples “of all nations.” He promised He would return when the gospel was preached to all nations. He gave us a glorious vision of what it will be like when the saved from every nation gathers before the throne and proclaims “Salvation belongs to our God…”
If we are truly serious about wanted Jesus to return, then we are working hard to get the word out “to every nation.” As radical Christians we need to be involved in world missions. It’s great to send money and to pray for those who go, but for most of us, we really need to go.
Have you every heard anyone who went on a real mission trip complain about it being a waste of time? I never have. We need the jolt which comes from seeing what a nation filled with the truly lost looks like. We need to feel the blessing of being used to bring the gospel to a unreached people group.
Every church should have a program that provides opportunity for its people to go. The Great Commission is not to yell really loud and say, “Come and see how great our God is.” The Great Commission is to “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
Start packing and be blessed.
Nick
