Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually – regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 AMP
Jesus gave His first followers a multiplying mission that would share the Good News starting with them, then going through the centuries and around the world. It is no different today than it was for them. He did not expect them individually to go to every nation and teach every person. It was and still is a team mission. Fulfilling the mission has numerous facets and each one of us plays a part, actually multiple parts, at various times and places.
We can pray. Jesus taught us to pray that His Kingdom would come and His will would be done on earth as in heaven. When His will is done, we love, share, and serve as He does, and people come to know Him personally as King and Life-giver. We pray for all who are not yet found, and for those who are seeking them. We pray for personal courage and wisdom to share.
We can welcome. Though God’s welcome is to everyone, we too often get caught in our own limited vision and opinions. The door slowly closes on others as we focus on our “target audiences,” our “homogeneous units.” (A common church growth direction is that churches grow best and fastest when everyone worships with people like themselves and do not have to cross boundaries of race, class, language, culture, etc. – Dr. Donald McGavran’s HUP). But Jesus’ mission was not to grow the church quickly and easily. It was to build His Kingdom. Luke 14 records his observation that many privileged people take the invitation casually and don’t respond. He said to then go to the “highways and the byways,” welcoming them, even compelling them to come in to the party. We have immigrants, marginalized people groups, persons rejected or overlooked even by Christian society, right here In our communities who will never know the love of Jesus unless they experience the loving welcome and embrace of God’s courageously compassionate people.
We can give. Every mission requires finances. When we give, our resources are investments in what matters most to God – to share the Good News here and around the world.
We can go. Some will go abroad as missionaries, career or short-term service trip. All of us can go outside our comfort zones to share the news with people in our own communities.
- Earnest prayer, compassionate welcome, generous giving, and courageous going have never been more needed in our society than they are today. Take some time to talk and think with Jesus about how you can effectively be on mission.