14 Sep, 2006
No more sitting around!
What do you see in this picture?
photo courtesy slate.com, 9/11/06 & Thomas Hoepker / Magnum
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)
I really don't know what's going on with the young people in the photo above, but when you realize it was taken while the towers were burning on 9/11, it really makes me wonder? None of them are looking at the destruction. What are they talking about? What did they do afterwards? What is their story?
These young people probably have a great explanation for the context of the second this photo was taken, but one word came to my mind. Indifference.
Does today's God's Story leave any room for indifference for anyone who is a genuine follower of Jesus?
No, of course not. These final words of Jesus before He returned to Heaven are a command. We don't have the option of sitting around on our Christian duffs if we're serious about obeying Jesus and honoring Him with our lives.
You don't have to be a youth worker, an evangelist, or a missionary in some official way. God has gifted every follower of Jesus to be able to GO and make disciples next door, at the next locker, in the next neighborhood, in another country....
The world around us is full of people who are headed for eternal destruction. Each one has a story. They need to know God's Story of rescue through Jesus. Jesus will use your story to make a difference.
How can you connect today's God's Story to your story?
- Spend a few minutes in quiet reflection with Jesus. Together, look at a snapshot of your life. Have you been indifferent to the lost world around you? Have you taken His command to GO seriously? Talk to Him....listen....
- Take courage in the fact that part of His command in Matthew 28:18-20 includes His promise to always be with you. No matter what, you will never have to go it alone.
- Remember that to GO, you can start with one person. Do you have someone in your circle of influence (friend or family member) who needs Jesus? If not, ask Jesus to begin the process of connecting you with one person.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- Pray every day for at least one person who needs to become a follower of Jesus. Ask Jesus to show you how to learn this person's story by spending time together and asking questions and most important - listening! For more on connecting your story and God's Story to their story, click on My Story and Their Story on this 3Story site.
- Use today's DAILYBIDE as a conversation starter and encouragement with other followers of Jesus. Remember - no more sitting around!
- May 2008 [8]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [21]
- December 2007 [20]
- November 2007 [19]
- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [19]
- August 2007 [20]
- July 2007 [18]
- June 2007 [19]
- May 2007 [18]
- April 2007 [13]
- March 2007 [17]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [9]
- December 2006 [6]
- November 2006 [15]
- October 2006 [18]
- September 2006 [12]
- August 2006 [17]
- July 2006 [14]
- June 2006 [4]
