The Great Commission is Not the “Great Suggestion”
Today’s Bible Verse:
Matthew 28:19 ESV
(Jesus said) “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”
Jesus' final words in Saint Matthew's Gospel echo through the centuries, a divine commission that resonates deeply within the heart of every Christian. It's a call to action, a reminder of our purpose as followers of Christ. We are not meant to keep our faith to ourselves; we are called to share it with the world.
The Great Commission is not merely a suggestion; it's a command. Jesus doesn't say, "If you have time, consider making disciples." He says, "Go and make disciples." This is our primary task as Christians. We are ambassadors of Christ entrusted with the message of salvation.
Baptism is central to the Great Commission. It's the sacrament through which we enter the family of God. In baptism, we are washed clean of our sins and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. We die to our old selves and rise to new life in Christ. Jesus commands us to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This reminds us that our faith is rooted in the Trinity, the three persons of the Godhead. We worship one God in three persons, a mystery central to our understanding of who God is.
Jesus' final words in Matthew's Gospel are a promise: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." This is a source of great comfort and strength. We are not alone in our mission; Christ is with us every step of the way.
PRAYERS
Keep in Your Prayers:
The people of the Gulf Coast dealing with a hurricane.
All people dealing with cancer
Those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
A Prayer for Today:
Gracious Father, thank you for the Great Commission. Help all believers to be faithful witnesses to your love in the world. Empower us to share the Gospel with all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
The photo above is licensed through Unsplash+