Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Matthew 28:16-20
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Before Jesus left, He gave us all the great commission to spread the gospel and make disciples from all nations. Making disciples means bringing people to not only know or believe about Jesus, but it means bringing people to surrender to Christ as their Master. To all the nations means that there must be disciples from every single ethnic group there is around the world.
Many people have obeyed and lived out the great commission to this day. The proof is that we can know the gospel. We are gentiles who live thousands of kilometres away from Jerusalem. We own a culture and language that is entirely different to the Israelites. There have been missionaries who brought the gospel to our people, who planted churches in our tongues until the gospel came us.
However, the great work is not yet complete. According to the Joshua Project, 42.4% of people groups remained unreached, leaving 3.28 billion people out of reach of the gospel. Unreached people groups are defined as groups that “lack enough followers of Christ and resources to evangelise their own people”. There is still a lot of work to be done, and we, Christians, are called to go and make disciples of all nations.
Mission seems like a scary and impossible task. How do we bring the gospel to the whole world when we are weak, and our resources are limited? Yet, we must know that the great commission came with a great promise which is our security and courage to move forward.
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” and “I am with you always, to the end of the age”. Firstly, Christ rules sovereign over the universe. All powers are under His dominion. When He says go, He is not sending us into the dark. He knows the final outcome, and He will bring His will to completion. Because God is sovereign, we can be sure that none of our ministries is in vain and that the one who has started the good work in us and through us will surely finish it.
Secondly, Christ does not send us to walk alone. He promises to be with us to the end of the age. The success of our mission is not dependent on our strength, for we are too weak and helpless. The Holy Spirit is the one who abides with us, working in us and through us. In His strength, we are able to endure what comes and do the work He has called us to do.
Lord, give us hearts to obey Your commission. Give us faith to trust in Your promises. Our lives are only once, and so many souls have yet to hear the good news of Your salvation. Teach us to live our lives on mission. Give us a burden for Your work and calling. Forgive us for we are too slothful and selfish. Revive us and awaken our souls once again. In Jesus’ name, amen.