May 27, 2018 FINAL WORDS
Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
It’s awesome to know the final words that Jesus spoke on earth before He ascended into heaven. Just in a few words Jesus gives us the ‘therefore’ of His coming. His instruction to His followers (you and I) is clear, leaving no doubt as to what we are to be about. First, Jesus announces that He had been given ‘all authority’ ‘in heaven and on earth,’ and this authority is the basis of the instructions He gives. In other words, because of His authority, His instructions can be executed. Because of all that Jesus accomplished by His life on earth and His subsequent death and resurrection, we are able to obey all that He commands. As I have said in previous blogs, many tend to view the word ‘command’ in a negative light-we resist being told what to do. As believers, we should rejoice over His commands and be anxious to carry out His instructions because only by doing so will we experience the life He offers. A central theme of the New Testament is that of obeying the Lord. In fact, Jesus said that those who love Him obey Him. John 14:15. God is not on an ego trip relishing the idea of being obeyed; He desires our obedience because as we obey His commands, we find life. God is our creator, He designed us, and He is the one who knows exactly what we need in order to be complete. Out of His love, He chooses to make Himself known to us through His written word and through His Holy Spirit that we might experience life to the fullest. As we come to know Him and as we experience His great love for us, obeying Him becomes our desire. One may try to obey Him just because that is what he thinks he is ‘suppose’ to do, but that type of obedience falls short. So, the obvious key is that we experience His love in a personal way. There are doubtless many believers who trust God, but have not experienced the love He has for them. If that is you, then read God’s word, and as you read, ask God to reveal His love for you. He may reveal His love to you today, or tomorrow, or next year-but for sure, He will let you experience His love. In the meantime, be quick to obey His words as that is a step in the process of getting to know Him. God invites us to come to Him and He delights in us when we seek Him first. And do not forget, He “is with us always, even to the end of the age.” Let us have a heart to observe all that He has commanded us, and encourage others to do the same-that’s making disciples.
1 John 2:4-5 “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
It’s awesome to know the final words that Jesus spoke on earth before He ascended into heaven. Just in a few words Jesus gives us the ‘therefore’ of His coming. His instruction to His followers (you and I) is clear, leaving no doubt as to what we are to be about. First, Jesus announces that He had been given ‘all authority’ ‘in heaven and on earth,’ and this authority is the basis of the instructions He gives. In other words, because of His authority, His instructions can be executed. Because of all that Jesus accomplished by His life on earth and His subsequent death and resurrection, we are able to obey all that He commands. As I have said in previous blogs, many tend to view the word ‘command’ in a negative light-we resist being told what to do. As believers, we should rejoice over His commands and be anxious to carry out His instructions because only by doing so will we experience the life He offers. A central theme of the New Testament is that of obeying the Lord. In fact, Jesus said that those who love Him obey Him. John 14:15. God is not on an ego trip relishing the idea of being obeyed; He desires our obedience because as we obey His commands, we find life. God is our creator, He designed us, and He is the one who knows exactly what we need in order to be complete. Out of His love, He chooses to make Himself known to us through His written word and through His Holy Spirit that we might experience life to the fullest. As we come to know Him and as we experience His great love for us, obeying Him becomes our desire. One may try to obey Him just because that is what he thinks he is ‘suppose’ to do, but that type of obedience falls short. So, the obvious key is that we experience His love in a personal way. There are doubtless many believers who trust God, but have not experienced the love He has for them. If that is you, then read God’s word, and as you read, ask God to reveal His love for you. He may reveal His love to you today, or tomorrow, or next year-but for sure, He will let you experience His love. In the meantime, be quick to obey His words as that is a step in the process of getting to know Him. God invites us to come to Him and He delights in us when we seek Him first. And do not forget, He “is with us always, even to the end of the age.” Let us have a heart to observe all that He has commanded us, and encourage others to do the same-that’s making disciples.
1 John 2:4-5 “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.”
Blessings,
Buddy
RSS Feed