16
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus
had told them to go. 17 When they saw
him, they worshiped him -- but some of them still doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on
earth. 19 Therefore,
go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 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 28:16-20 (NLT)
Last Sunday we were challenged at RCC to be a Matthew 28
church. We were reminded of Jesus’ last
words to his followers to go and make disciples. Those last words however, weren’t meant for
just those there that day. They were
left for all believers in Christ that would follow until Jesus returns. It was brought to our attention that there is
no plan B. It is up to us. We were challenged to look outward and start
building relationships with those who don’t know Christ. The plan is simple. Christians are called to share with the lost
the truth about Jesus and what he’s done for us instead of depending upon
ministers, elders, church ministries and programs to do it for us. We all have
a role to play and a job to do. We are
called to go and be “Somebody” to someone else personally.
My first thought Sunday was, “Who do I know that isn’t a
Christian?” As a stay at home mom, I’m
with my children and I disciple them daily.
I don’t have many outside contacts except through our local congregation
and most of those are Christians. Yet,
again, God whispered to me in service, “Have you prayed for an opportunity?” Ouch.
No, I hadn’t in a very long time.
In one of my college classes at LCU, we were encouraged to pray for God
to give us an opportunity to share Christ with someone who was lost, and that
we’d be able to recognize that opportunity and make the most of it. (Colossians
4:2-6). I can't remember the last time I did that.
Lost people matter to God.
They were made in His image. He
loves them. Lost people need to matter
to us. We need to make them a priority
just like Jesus did. I find it so
amazing that it didn’t seem to matter how busy Jesus was, he always made time
to spend with lost people. He would talk
to them, eat with them, show compassion and mercy to them, and heal them. They were transformed because of their
encounter with Him. Usually after such
an encounter they would go and tell others.
They couldn’t contain their new love for Him and had to share what had
happened.
I sat in my seat Sunday ashamed that I have been so caught
up in my own agenda and lists of things to do that somehow reaching lost people
has not been a priority.
Sharing my
story has not crossed my mind while out in the community.
I have been focused on the spiritual health
of our children, preparing for our new school year, and just trying to enjoy
the summer.
I love God so much.
I crave my daily quiet time and enjoy each
moment of it.
I can’t make it through
the day without it.
Yet, somehow along
the way I have lost the excitement to tell others and have totally turned my
focus inward.
I realize as a mom, it’s
part of my responsibility to shepherd and teach my own children, but I also
have a responsibility to tell others as well.
Relationship building is not my strength. I’m not a social butterfly. It can be very stressful because people are
intimidating to me. Yet nowhere in
Matthew 28 do I see a loophole to get out of going to tell others. Yeah….I went to worship Sunday and got “wacked”
on the head by the message. Who does
that preacher guy think he is to go meddling in my personal life? J Doesn’t God know that for me, building
relationships can be scary? What if they
don’t like me? Building relationships
takes time. It takes work. It requires me to open myself up and invest
myself in others. Yet that’s exactly
what I’ve been called to do; there is no exemption.
City Harbor has a song you may have heard, “Somebody Tell
Them”. I love that song. The chorus is my FAVORITE part. It talks about how somebody needs to go and share Christ with these broken and lost
people.
“Somebody tell him that the lost are
saved
Somebody tell him that his debt has been paid
Let him know that love is calling out his name
Somebody tell him that he's a child of the king
And there's an end to the suffering
And hope that never fades
Through grace that's made a way
Somebody tell him
Somebody tell him now”
Matthew 28 tells us we are that “Somebody”. We are given opportunities during the course
of our day or week to share what Jesus has done in our lives. Sometimes we may seize that opportunity and
sometimes we may hold back because of our fear or insecurity. I don’t
know about you, but I want to be the voice of love to them. Please join me and pray for me as I begin to pray for an
opportunity to share Christ.
