Peace - Advent, Week 4 Reading 5

The Great Commission - go tell everyone!

"Jesus came and told His disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

"'Look, I am coming soon, bringing My reward with Me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.'"

"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let anyone who hears this say, "Come." Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life."

"He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's holy people."

Revelation 22:12-13;17, 20-21

"Hey Annie, would you like to help me with the women's conference?"

Me?! You need my help? You want my help?

My friend Tricia is a highly capable, extremely wise leader that I respect greatly and could easily do the job herself. So for her to ask if I wanted to come alongside her to help with one of the biggest events in our church made me sit up a bit straighter, stand a little taller.

And it made me see the women's conference from a different angle and made me love it even more. And to have a role, an inside perspective gave me a dignity and identity that at once humbled me but also strengthened me. To have a part to play in a fantastic event makes you feel like you belong.

The amazing thing is, this is what Jesus does to each of us. In fact, He goes a step further, taking any option other than yes off the table, He commissions us, commands us to go and tell everyone His Good News. The church, His holy people are His plan A for making sure everyone knows they can become children of God and has the opportunity to grow in the fullness of that identity before He comes back again.

You have a part to play, too. Jesus said you do. You belong in His Kingdom, doing what Kingdom people are commanded to do. He could do it Himself. But He wants you to have a part in it. Everyone is invited to receive the Good News. Who will you tell?

You won't be alone. You have the church and you have Him. There are thirsty people out there and we know how they can have living water. So sit up a bit straighter, stand up a little taller and let's go tell the world!