Yesterday was Memorial Day. We honored military personnel who gave their very lives serving our nation so that we might live in the freedom we have today. For followers of Jesus, wartime hasn’t ended. Daily, we battle sin and fight an enemy who is against every faithful soldier of Christ. After the cross, but before Jesus returned to his Father, he left marching orders for his small army of disciples. The mission, our assignment, has not changed since that day.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20
Then he told his soldier-followers, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Similar to the recognizable slogan of the Uncle Sam wartime poster, Jesus came to earth to call people to join his army, aka The Kingdom. He came calling Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, Thomas … ME and YOU! Likewise, Jesus’ message was urgent: “Follow Me!”
In other words, “Drop whatever it is you’re doing, whatever you think your life and identity are all about. I want you … to follow me … do what I do … now … and always.”
Just like the first disciples, we are called to be a new creation that sees humanity through a new lens, a spiritual lens. We’re called to a new purpose, the ministry of reconciliation, which means we’re also in the business of recruiting — finding people and pointing them to the Savior, making disciples, baptizing them, teaching people with words, yes, but more importantly, by the way we live, what it looks like to obey the good news, the gospel.
Donielle Winter
EFCC Member