Week Three: Loving Like Jesus Loved
On the last day of Jesus’ ministry, He left His disciples with some parting words:
… “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 NIV
Let’s go through this passage together.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Jesus is the ruler of heaven and earth. He’s the King, and we live in His Kingdom. Jesus’ Kingdom isn’t like any other nation on Earth. That’s because it’s filled with people who choose to live and love like Jesus through service, generosity, hospitality, and forgiveness.
“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.”
Not everyone has experienced Jesus’ grace, forgiveness, and acceptance. Jesus wants to change that, and He wants our help. So He calls us to go into our neighborhoods, workplaces, and all over the world, loving people how Jesus does and showing them the joy, passion, and purpose of a life that’s fully devoted to Him.
This could look like inviting your neighbors to church, sharing the story of what God has done in your life, or any number of ways God can use you to share and show His love to others around you.
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
As we go into the world telling people about Jesus, we’re not alone. Jesus is with us every step of the way through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit encourages us and gives us strength as we pursue our mission.
How do we obey Jesus’ command to share His message and way of life with the world? Christians often call our approach to sharing Jesus with the world “missions.” We get involved in missions locally by getting to know our neighbors and looking for ways to meet the needs of people in our communities. As we get to know others, we share our stories and the way Jesus is changing our lives.
As you invest in your neighborhood or city, look for ways to support global missions as well. There are full-time missionaries and missions organizations at work all over the world. Many focus on specific needs, like Bible translation, education, disaster relief, and fighting human trafficking.
We can all support missions through prayer. And you may choose to support their work through giving or looking for opportunities to volunteer.