Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Matthew 28:20 "Go therefore and make disciples . . ."
GOOD-NEWS SHARING!
One of the great possibilities that opens up to us because of Easter is mission work. Our Lord Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, has restored innocence and life. God the Father "according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead . . ." (1 Peter 1:3).
One of the noticeable emotions of Easter morning is excitement. As Christians who are possessors of the inheritance of heaven by the abundant mercy of God the Father, through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can hardly be other than joyful. In view of the confidence and joy we know, maybe we ought not speak of mission work as "work." Indeed, preaching and sharing the Gospel involves time and effort. Yet what is our work in view of what our Lord Jesus Christ "worked" for us, and for the world? Maybe we should speak of the fulfillment of our Savior's commission to the church according to what it
really is: "GOOD-NEWS SHARING."
As the women went to tell the disciples of the Savior's resurrection, Jesus himself met them. To these women Jesus said: "Rejoice" (Matthew 28:9). He encouraged them to turn their joy into action: "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me" (28:10). Joy motivates to action. The reality of Jesus' resurrection inspires joy and overcomes fear in the hearts of those who are alive in Christ. And who are those but they who believe in Him?
There is much mission work in the world. Most religious bodies engage in mission work. Only they can meaningfully engage in GOOD-NEWS SHARING who speak as ambassadors of Christ, and who speak repentance and remission of sins to a dying world; only they who speak Christ crucified and risen again; only they who speak with the confidence of faith that characterized the apostle who, writing the inspired Word, said: "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep . . . Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:20, 27).
By the power of the Savior's resurrection, may your confidence of life eternal, and your joy in that assurance, be full this Easter time and at every time. From the power of the same resurrection may your joy be turned into active GOOD-NEWS SHARING.
