Matthew 28
19 ...go and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father
and the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.
And be sure of this:
I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
The operative word here is "go"
Dictionary.com defines "go" as...
1. to move or proceed, especially to or from something: They're going by bus.
2. to leave a place; depart: People were coming and going all the time.
3. to keep or be in motion; function or perform as required: Can't you go any faster in your work?
4. to become as specified: to go mad.
5. to continue in a certain state or condition; be habitually: to go barefoot.
But most of us think this means "go to deepest, darkest Africa as a missionary to suffer & die"
"Go" could mean go to the people in our neighborhood & share as naturally with them (as we would share about a good movie or a great recipe) from the overflow of our life as a Christ follower.
Or go to the people us work with each day, doing the same thing.
Or go to the people who work in the places where us shop, restaurants in which you eat, or the gas stations you fill up your car.
It could mean God does want us to go - to another job, another place to live, another church, another set of friends.
It could mean He would want us to go to a different place to live, to be who we are & to love people as Christ does.
And yes, it might mean He could want us to travel to other countries, either close at hand, or far away, & be Him in those places for those people.
I guess the most important thing is to be willing to go, no matter where that "go" may lead us.
Most of the time, that go will lead us into places that probably scare us a little,
places where we know we can't be who we are & love people as Jesus under our own steam;
iow, God's gonna have to supply the strength, wisdom,& where with all for us to be Him in the places He sends us.
Remember all this in the days ahead...
But most of us think this means "go to deepest, darkest Africa as a missionary to suffer & die"
"Go" could mean go to the people in our neighborhood & share as naturally with them (as we would share about a good movie or a great recipe) from the overflow of our life as a Christ follower.
Or go to the people us work with each day, doing the same thing.
Or go to the people who work in the places where us shop, restaurants in which you eat, or the gas stations you fill up your car.
It could mean God does want us to go - to another job, another place to live, another church, another set of friends.
It could mean He would want us to go to a different place to live, to be who we are & to love people as Christ does.
And yes, it might mean He could want us to travel to other countries, either close at hand, or far away, & be Him in those places for those people.
I guess the most important thing is to be willing to go, no matter where that "go" may lead us.
Most of the time, that go will lead us into places that probably scare us a little,
places where we know we can't be who we are & love people as Jesus under our own steam;
iow, God's gonna have to supply the strength, wisdom,& where with all for us to be Him in the places He sends us.
Remember all this in the days ahead...
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