Monday, September 25, 2023

Listen to the Word

Then Jesus came to them and said, “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 28:18-20)

One of the striking things about Jesus’ commission to his followers is that its emphasis is completely outward. It is all about what we are supposed to do for those presently outside the family of faith. The church he envisions does not exist for us. He does not say, “All authority has been given to me – therefore build yourselves a nice building, get together every week to enjoy each other, hire some folks to counsel you and visit you and take care of your kids and marry you and bury you. Form a nice little holy huddle. And lo, I am with you always…” No! He challenges us to change the world. He commissions us to take the amazing life we experience with him and go share it with everybody we meet. We are not a club, but an army. We are not focused on ourselves, but on others. Jesus would like to turn our churches inside-out.

Live the Word

Think of someone you know who does not have a connection to a church, and take an opportunity to invite them to visit your church.