Commissioned For Service
- 20 hours ago
- 2 min read
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 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 28:16-20)
The gospel of Matthew ends with the Great Commission. The writer noted that while some disciples worshiped, others still doubted - yet all were commissioned. They were not commissioned to build a temple or directly take on the political leaders, but to make more disciples - bringing all nations into the fold, by teaching everyone to live lives of compassionate justice, as Jesus had commanded. In chapter 25 of this same gospel, Jesus provided his most explicit declarations about those who would be welcomed into God's kingdom. After instructing his listeners to be ready at any time to give an accounting of how they had used everything they'd been given, Jesus explained that the life that is pleasing to God is one that provides for the needs of others with not only food, drink, and clothing, but also with care and relationship.
35 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:35-36)
We, too, are commissioned for this service. No degree or special certification is required. We are not even required to be free of questions and doubts. We are only required to love. We love and honor God by loving our neighbor, and loving our neighbor means caring for the needs of others like we want our own needs to be cared for. This should be the life work and the joy of everyone who calls themselves a disciple of Jesus. While this seems simple, it's not always easy. But, by God's grace, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to guide, encourage and strengthen us as we strive to live the way of Jesus, to the glory of God.
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:37-40)
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