The Great Commission
The Great Commission: Our Divine GPS
In the wake of Easter, we find ourselves asking, "What's next?" The answer lies in Jesus' final instructions to His disciples before ascending to heaven - what we now call the Great Commission. This calling isn't just for those first followers, but for all believers throughout time. It's our divine GPS, guiding us in our purpose as Christians.
Go, Proclaim, Sent - our spiritual GPS
Just as we rely on GPS devices to navigate our journeys, Jesus has given us a spiritual GPS to guide our mission as His followers:
G - Go: We are called to be a going people, actively sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us.
P - Proclaim: As believers, we are to be proclaimers of the gospel, boldly declaring the message of hope and salvation.
S - Sent: Just as the Father sent Jesus, we too are sent into the world as His representatives.
This GPS isn't just a set of directions; it's a powerful mandate empowered by divine authority. Jesus declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." This means when we go out to share His message, we do so with the full backing of the King of Kings.
Overcoming Fear with Divine Authority
Despite this empowerment, fear often holds us back. Less than 2% of believers actively share their faith. Why? The fear of man can be paralyzing. But Jesus repeatedly told His disciples, "Do not be afraid." He understood the trepidation they (and we) would face.
Remember, we have been given a spiritual "power of attorney" to act on Christ's behalf. Just as a legal power of attorney allows someone to make decisions for another, we have been authorized to share the gospel message with the world. It's His authority and power; we simply need to go and do it.
The Confirmation of the Message
In Mark's account, we see a beautiful promise: as the disciples went out to preach, "the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs." This isn't just ancient history; it's a living reality for believers today.
Consider the story of Bria, a young woman struggling with parenting challenges. When shared the wisdom of Psalm 1 as a prayer for children, she later discovered that very passage "by chance" when she opened her Bible that night. This is how God works - confirming His word in remarkable ways as we step out in faith to share it.
Equipped with Power from On High
Luke's account reminds us that we're not left to our own devices in this mission. Jesus promised to send "the promise of my Father upon you" - the Holy Spirit. We are supernaturally equipped for this seemingly impossible task. This should remove pressure from us, not add to it. We're vessels of clay, cracked and imperfect, but filled with the power of God's grace that seeps out to a world in desperate need.
Peace in the Midst of Mission
John's gospel adds another dimension to our calling - peace. "Peace be with you," Jesus said repeatedly to His disciples. As we engage in our mission, we carry this supernatural peace with us. It's a peace that the world doesn't understand, one that can profoundly impact those we encounter.
The Ultimate Call: Follow Me
After all the instructions about going, proclaiming, and being sent, Jesus summed up His commission with two simple words: "Follow me." This is the heart of our calling. As we follow Jesus, we naturally become people who go, proclaim, and recognize our sent identity.
Bringing Christ to People
It's important to remember: our job isn't to bring people to Christ, but to bring Christ to people. The Holy Spirit does the convicting work in hearts. We are simply called to be faithful in sharing the good news.
Practical Steps for Living Out the Great Commission
1. Start with your own testimony: Share how God has worked in your life. This generation particularly appreciates authenticity and personal stories.
2. Use Scripture in context: When you share God's word in relation to someone's circumstances, it often resonates in powerful ways.
3. Offer to pray for people: This simple act can open doors for deeper conversations and demonstrate God's love in tangible ways.
4. Remember you're operating under Christ's authority: This can help alleviate fear and boost confidence in sharing your faith.
5. Look for God's confirming work: Be attentive to how God might be working in someone's life, even in seemingly coincidental ways.
6. Cultivate and share the peace of Christ: Let others sense the difference Jesus makes in how you handle life's challenges.
7. Focus on following Jesus: As you draw closer to Him, sharing your faith will become a more natural outflow of your relationship with Christ.
The Beautiful Feet of the Messengers
The prophet Isaiah spoke of how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. Originally, this referred to messengers running across mountains to proclaim victory or deliverance to people in exile. How much more beautiful, then, are the feet of those who carry the ultimate good news - the gospel of Jesus Christ?
As bearers of this message, we have the privilege of bringing hope to a world often trapped in despair. We carry news of a King who reigns, of restoration, and of God's unfailing love for His people.
A Calling for Every Believer
The Great Commission isn't just for pastors, missionaries, or those with the gift of evangelism. It's a calling for every follower of Jesus. We each have a unique sphere of influence - family, friends, coworkers, neighbors - where we can live out this divine GPS.
As we go about our daily lives, may we be ever mindful of our calling. Let's tune our hearts to the guidance of our spiritual GPS, always ready to go where He leads, proclaim His truth, and embrace our identity as His sent ones.
The world desperately needs the hope we carry. Will you answer the call to be a bearer of good news? Remember, you're not alone in this mission. The One who holds all authority in heaven and on earth goes with you, empowering you every step of the way. So take heart, don't be afraid, and follow Jesus into the adventure of bringing His light to a world in need.
In the wake of Easter, we find ourselves asking, "What's next?" The answer lies in Jesus' final instructions to His disciples before ascending to heaven - what we now call the Great Commission. This calling isn't just for those first followers, but for all believers throughout time. It's our divine GPS, guiding us in our purpose as Christians.
Go, Proclaim, Sent - our spiritual GPS
Just as we rely on GPS devices to navigate our journeys, Jesus has given us a spiritual GPS to guide our mission as His followers:
G - Go: We are called to be a going people, actively sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us.
P - Proclaim: As believers, we are to be proclaimers of the gospel, boldly declaring the message of hope and salvation.
S - Sent: Just as the Father sent Jesus, we too are sent into the world as His representatives.
This GPS isn't just a set of directions; it's a powerful mandate empowered by divine authority. Jesus declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." This means when we go out to share His message, we do so with the full backing of the King of Kings.
Overcoming Fear with Divine Authority
Despite this empowerment, fear often holds us back. Less than 2% of believers actively share their faith. Why? The fear of man can be paralyzing. But Jesus repeatedly told His disciples, "Do not be afraid." He understood the trepidation they (and we) would face.
Remember, we have been given a spiritual "power of attorney" to act on Christ's behalf. Just as a legal power of attorney allows someone to make decisions for another, we have been authorized to share the gospel message with the world. It's His authority and power; we simply need to go and do it.
The Confirmation of the Message
In Mark's account, we see a beautiful promise: as the disciples went out to preach, "the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs." This isn't just ancient history; it's a living reality for believers today.
Consider the story of Bria, a young woman struggling with parenting challenges. When shared the wisdom of Psalm 1 as a prayer for children, she later discovered that very passage "by chance" when she opened her Bible that night. This is how God works - confirming His word in remarkable ways as we step out in faith to share it.
Equipped with Power from On High
Luke's account reminds us that we're not left to our own devices in this mission. Jesus promised to send "the promise of my Father upon you" - the Holy Spirit. We are supernaturally equipped for this seemingly impossible task. This should remove pressure from us, not add to it. We're vessels of clay, cracked and imperfect, but filled with the power of God's grace that seeps out to a world in desperate need.
Peace in the Midst of Mission
John's gospel adds another dimension to our calling - peace. "Peace be with you," Jesus said repeatedly to His disciples. As we engage in our mission, we carry this supernatural peace with us. It's a peace that the world doesn't understand, one that can profoundly impact those we encounter.
The Ultimate Call: Follow Me
After all the instructions about going, proclaiming, and being sent, Jesus summed up His commission with two simple words: "Follow me." This is the heart of our calling. As we follow Jesus, we naturally become people who go, proclaim, and recognize our sent identity.
Bringing Christ to People
It's important to remember: our job isn't to bring people to Christ, but to bring Christ to people. The Holy Spirit does the convicting work in hearts. We are simply called to be faithful in sharing the good news.
Practical Steps for Living Out the Great Commission
1. Start with your own testimony: Share how God has worked in your life. This generation particularly appreciates authenticity and personal stories.
2. Use Scripture in context: When you share God's word in relation to someone's circumstances, it often resonates in powerful ways.
3. Offer to pray for people: This simple act can open doors for deeper conversations and demonstrate God's love in tangible ways.
4. Remember you're operating under Christ's authority: This can help alleviate fear and boost confidence in sharing your faith.
5. Look for God's confirming work: Be attentive to how God might be working in someone's life, even in seemingly coincidental ways.
6. Cultivate and share the peace of Christ: Let others sense the difference Jesus makes in how you handle life's challenges.
7. Focus on following Jesus: As you draw closer to Him, sharing your faith will become a more natural outflow of your relationship with Christ.
The Beautiful Feet of the Messengers
The prophet Isaiah spoke of how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. Originally, this referred to messengers running across mountains to proclaim victory or deliverance to people in exile. How much more beautiful, then, are the feet of those who carry the ultimate good news - the gospel of Jesus Christ?
As bearers of this message, we have the privilege of bringing hope to a world often trapped in despair. We carry news of a King who reigns, of restoration, and of God's unfailing love for His people.
A Calling for Every Believer
The Great Commission isn't just for pastors, missionaries, or those with the gift of evangelism. It's a calling for every follower of Jesus. We each have a unique sphere of influence - family, friends, coworkers, neighbors - where we can live out this divine GPS.
As we go about our daily lives, may we be ever mindful of our calling. Let's tune our hearts to the guidance of our spiritual GPS, always ready to go where He leads, proclaim His truth, and embrace our identity as His sent ones.
The world desperately needs the hope we carry. Will you answer the call to be a bearer of good news? Remember, you're not alone in this mission. The One who holds all authority in heaven and on earth goes with you, empowering you every step of the way. So take heart, don't be afraid, and follow Jesus into the adventure of bringing His light to a world in need.
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