Sunday 31 July 2016

Christians and The Great Commission

Christians and The Great Commission
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
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 28:18-20.
Here in lies the duty of all Christians. To go into all the world and present the Gospel to all creation.
Jesus never said protest against anything. Even things contrary to Christian belief.  He never said scream angry words like “you’re going to hell”. He simply said love.
When asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.  Matthew 22:36-38
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40. Prior to Matthew recording this, Matthew also recorded Jesus as saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Matthew 5:43-47.
The disciples of Jesus understood this. They knew that in order to reach out to a lost and dying world we as Christians need to show unconditional love to all people, even our enemy.
Billy Graham said of Christ’s disciples,
“The men who followed Him, were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”Billy Graham.
We as Christians in the twenty-first century need to get our hearts turned right side up. We need to show love to all whom we come in contact with.
We need to approach all people with love. To be willing to listen to them to live at peace with them. For it is only in doings so that we will be able to reach the world for Christ.
Dear Christian are you showing love to those around you? Do people see Jesus reflected in you?
I like what Francis of Assisi said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” Francis of Assisi.
What is your sermon saying?
Please think about it.

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