Commissioned By Christ

By Pastor Mark McAdow
Last Sunday, I shared about the Great Commandment – "Two for the Price of One” – and the Great Commission, too – not to mention the Great Promise of Matthew 28:20 “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  We noted that the Great Commandment can be summarized “love God, love others” in that order of priority. “Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (I John 4:21b). They go hand in hand, you can’t love one without loving the other.

The Great Commandment given by Jesus before he returned to heaven is found in Matthew 28:18-20: “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.”  We noted it is not the Great Suggestion by our Commander-in-Chief Jesus Christ, and too often in the American consumer church it is the Great Omission. It is too often simply ignored.

We are called to be in and on mission with and for Jesus Christ. The good news is that He sends us to share His love with others and then He goes with us. We never go alone. He didn’t say to “go and save people."  Only He can do that through the power of The Holy Spirit.  But He said, “go and make disciples.”  The mission of the new Global Methodist Church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly and witness boldly.”  That is the Great Commission spelled out in some practical terms. With that mission comes enthusiasm and joy in sharing Christ with others.

Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? Have you surrendered your whole heart to Him? I suggested at the end of the message on Sunday to ask Jesus, “Am I entirely yours?”  That’s what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. He is all that matters in my life.  Anything else is simply a bonus blessing.  This life is ALL about Him! Why? Because he died to pay for your sin and mine when we didn’t have a clue.  He bought us with His own blood and paid our death penalty, so we don’t have to any longer.  We belong to Jesus. We’re His or we sure should be! Entirely His. “This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loves us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (I John 4:10).

We’re commissioned officers of Jesus Christ with all the rights, responsibilities and privileges of being a commissioned officer in his missionary army.  It is a co-mission with Christ and our brothers and sisters in Christ, too. How are we doing at fulfilling the Great Commission? Are we pursing Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? I pray we are by having a Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission! To God be the Glory. His will, His way.

Please pray for our Youth Mission Team to Costa Rica who leave early this Sunday morning. I look forward to seeing the rest of my favorite people this Sunday in worship.

Yours in Christ’s love,
Pastor Mark

PS: Thanks for your kind acts of appreciation for our staff in worship last Sunday by our SPRC Chair Roxanne Weeks.  Have a safe and blessed Independence Day on Tuesday.  The church office will be closed for the holiday but open again Wednesday morning, July 5.