Monday, October 2, 2017
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
ALL THE NATIONS
What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear a term like "all nations"? Your mind's eye may lead you to a mud-walled hut in an African jungle or some other primitive locale. And there is certainly much work to be done in spreading the Gospel in these distant lands. But isn't your next door neighbor or your co-worker or your own spouse or children or the stranger sitting next to you on the bus part of "all nations"?
While the great commission may seem overwhelmingly impossible when we think of billions of people on the earth today, it doesn't limit our opportunities to seemingly impossible-to-reach locations either. In fact, when you think about it, the phrase "all nations" serves to encourage the child of God to start sharing the good news with those around you right now, because they too are part of "all nations." We are sent to share the Gospel with all nations, with all people, wherever and whenever the Lord opens the door of opportunity-- across the table, across the hall, next door, across the street, across the county, the next town over, across the state, across the country, or maybe even on the other side of the world!
