18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
These are the final last words Jesus spoke right before He went to heaven. Last words are critical. It’s the last words we often hold close to our heart and linger in our memories. Jesus was intentional to leave us with this command.
Jesus instructs His followers to reach people who are far from Him. They do not know God’s ways, so we are to tell them, show them, coach them in how to live. Before Christ, I didn’t know how to love people well or treat them the way I wanted to be treated. In our world, the world where sin pervades, obeying the call to go, disciple, baptize, and teach is critical. Will you answer the call of Jesus?
Will you invest to get to know those who God has put into your life? Will you be friendly and show kindness? Gentle ways open doors.
The commission is for every follower just as the promise is “And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus is with you by the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you. We are not alone. We are not left to our own words or ideas. We are inspired by the Holy Spirit. It’s the boldness to talk to someone in line at the grocery, the guy in the next cubicle, the neighbor across the street. It’s the nudge in your heart, the feeling that just won’t leave-these are the small ways God gets our attention through the Holy Spirit.