Daily Reading for Tuesday, Feb. 19: Sharing
“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, 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 28:19-20
When we talk about sharing the gospel, inevitably this passage must be examined, for these verses encompass our primary motivation to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world. The bible tells us that when Jesus gave this command, He was speaking with his disciples. In fact, Matthew leads us to believe that this was one of the earliest encounters the disciples had with Jesus after His resurrection. Why is this important? Because after Jesus accomplished his mission on the cross—defeating death and sin—the very first thing He commands us to do is share this good news with everyone. No one (if he/she is a disciple) is exempt from sharing the news, and no one is excluded from hearing it. Jesus is extending to the entire human race the same opportunity He gave the original twelve, to come and follow Him.
When we read this passage, we can be motivated by the obedience of our hearts, for we desire to do what our Savior has commanded. But I believe there is a deeper motivation at work in these verses. First of all, we are a part of Jesus (that is what the baptism symbolizes.) Just as when a man and woman are joined together in marriage, so are we joined with Jesus in faith. We no longer look to our own interests—our interests become mingled and joined together with Jesus’. We obey not out of obligation, but out of love. The law is not written on tablets of stone, it is written on our hearts; and we desire to obey because it is our nature to do so. We share because we have something to share...the tangible, very real presence of God in our lives. Jesus said, “surely I am with you always,” and He meant it. His presence in us cannot be contained by us, for He desires to reach beyond us and share His presence with as many as would receive Him. That is why we share. Like with the manna that was provided in the desert, we cannot, nor do we desire to, hoard the good news.
When we talk about sharing the gospel, inevitably this passage must be examined, for these verses encompass our primary motivation to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world. The bible tells us that when Jesus gave this command, He was speaking with his disciples. In fact, Matthew leads us to believe that this was one of the earliest encounters the disciples had with Jesus after His resurrection. Why is this important? Because after Jesus accomplished his mission on the cross—defeating death and sin—the very first thing He commands us to do is share this good news with everyone. No one (if he/she is a disciple) is exempt from sharing the news, and no one is excluded from hearing it. Jesus is extending to the entire human race the same opportunity He gave the original twelve, to come and follow Him.
When we read this passage, we can be motivated by the obedience of our hearts, for we desire to do what our Savior has commanded. But I believe there is a deeper motivation at work in these verses. First of all, we are a part of Jesus (that is what the baptism symbolizes.) Just as when a man and woman are joined together in marriage, so are we joined with Jesus in faith. We no longer look to our own interests—our interests become mingled and joined together with Jesus’. We obey not out of obligation, but out of love. The law is not written on tablets of stone, it is written on our hearts; and we desire to obey because it is our nature to do so. We share because we have something to share...the tangible, very real presence of God in our lives. Jesus said, “surely I am with you always,” and He meant it. His presence in us cannot be contained by us, for He desires to reach beyond us and share His presence with as many as would receive Him. That is why we share. Like with the manna that was provided in the desert, we cannot, nor do we desire to, hoard the good news.
Labels: Christianity, core values, missional, sharing devotion
posted by Jennifer Rang at
12:01 AM
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