I am exhausted. Ran a marathon yesterday. No, not a real one. That would have killed me. But I had “ministry tasks” all day including the funeral for Mr. Howard Montague (one of the greatest men I’ve been privileged to know and about whom I am sure I will post something soon) and a wedding. Found this post from last year that describes exactly what God provided to me when I needed it.
One of the lynch pin verses of my ministry is the Great Commission that Jesus gives at the end of Matthew (28:18-20). I believe it is our (the church’s) marching orders. “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.” Uhhh…seems cut and dry. What’s our job? Make disciples.
But what I love even more about this passage is what sandwiches it. One day I was reading this and not really “with it” spiritually speaking. Might I say I even had some doubts about what God’s purpose for my life was? So maybe you need to pull out your Bibles out but look at this: 28:16-17, “Then the 11 disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” What? Some doubted? After they saw Jesus raised from the dead they doubted? Pretty much. Isn’t that how I am sometimes? God comes through again and again for me. And yet, I sometimes doubt.
But look what happens immediately after that phrase, “but some doubted.” “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore….’” In other words, we can only accomplish the mission Jesus set out for us because He is with us. Moreover, we don’t have to doubt because Jesus is with us. Surely Jesus isn’t with us 2,000 years later! Yes, He is, because it ends in the same way, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Don’t you love God’s Word?
Dude, take a breather. We don’t want you dropping on us. Seriously. Take some time.