LOOK FORWARD – 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 2 Peter 3:14 NKJV
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 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 NIV
Some of the very last instructions Jesus gave while on this earth are found in today’s passage. The disciples had been with Jesus through a lot! They were specifically chosen by Him and left all that they had to follow Him. They were right with Him as He healed, interacted with people, and taught the things of God. They saw him angry, hungry, and thirsty. They watched in anguish as He was crucified and they rejoiced when He rose again. The end of their time together was near. If ever the question of “What now?” was asked, this was it.
Of the little instruction Jesus gave after His resurrection, He certainly emphasized to them that they were to go and tell of all that they had seen. When they were in Galilee, He tells them our passage for today, the Great Commission. When they were in a locked room, fearing the Jews, He said to them, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). Just before His ascension, Jesus says “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NIV).
Jesus’ final words, His final instruction, the closing point of His time on this earth had come to this. Now the disciples were to go and tell. The same command is ours today.
Jesus is coming again. As we look forward to that day, evangelism is critical.
Jesus is coming again. As we look forward to that day, evangelism is critical. The Lord’s patience means salvation. We must use the time we have left to testify of all that we’ve seen Him do and to share the Gospel with as many as possible.
APPLICATION
– Praise God for the good news of the Gospel. Pray that the Holy Spirit would speak mightily in your soul the command to “Go.” Ask that God would help you to be obedient to that call.
– Spend some time thanking God that Liberty is a church that goes and that prioritizes sharing the Gospel. Pray about how the Lord would have you commit to taking the Gospel forward this next year. Pray about committing to a Connect Group beyond this Forward series, about ways you can be involved in Liberty Anywhere, and about ways you can serve at your current campus or at a future Liberty campus.
– Thank God that His patience in returning means salvation for more people. Pray that many in your sphere of influence would come to know Christ in these last days. Set a goal for today to share Jesus with at least one person.