Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Matthew 28:16-20

The call to pour out the Living Water of the Spirit to make the world around us a more beautiful and fruitful place can never be fully obeyed without verbally bearing witness to the saving work of Jesus too. When Jesus was about to ascend to the Father, He gave His disciples a final command – known more commonly as “the Great Commission”: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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.” (v.19-20a)

Even Jesus, who lived a perfectly sinless life, could not rely solely on the witness of His life to reveal the glory of the Father and to enable sinful human beings to be forgiven and restored to right relationship with God eternally. He had to speak too. He had to explain how to receive what He had accomplished. He had to teach us how to live once our relationship to God is restored. In a nutshell, He had to preach and teach the Gospel.

Now Jesus has entrusted to us the task of continuing His ministry. While we live in Christ-following ways that make this world a more just and beautiful place for all, we are also called to speak out and bear witness to the reason for our way of living. As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.“

When people are sufficiently attracted to Jesus our Lord to desire what He has to offer them, we are called to explain how to receive His life-transforming ministry; viz. through repentance from sin, entrusting one’s life to His forgiving and loving Lordship (which is best symbolised by Christian baptism) and then learning how to live His eternally abundant life in the world in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it much more succinctly than I ever could when He said: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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.” (v.19-20a) This is our call!

Lord Jesus, please give me clear opportunities to share the Good News of Your life-transforming work today. Please embolden and empower me to do it well, and even to lead others into a first step of faith in You before the day is over. I long to be Your instrument as You begin to transform someone’s life from being shrouded in the darkness of sin and separation from God, to being flooded with the light of a life-giving relationship with You. Let it be so today. Amen!