Tell The Story!
Scripture:
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
Devotion:
I’d have to say my favorite holiday is Resurrection Sunday! Not at all because of the commercialized additives such as chocolate bunnies, eggs, baskets, and hunts. Not even because of the pastels we used to wear to church that day, and the lace socks that accompanied them. I love the celebration of the risen Savior! I love that the greatest story ever told gets re-told through songs and sermons. I love that the blood songs are sung in abundance. I love that the congregation gets reminded that not only did God the Father send His only Son to the earth to die on the cross for our sins, but also raised Him from the dead. This is the spectacular move of God that separates Christianity from any other religion. In every other religion, the leaders, though they may have been influential over many followers, they all died and remained dead. It is only in Christianity that the leader, who had an outstanding ministry healing the sick, feeding people with little resources, greatly influential to the point of having martyr followers, was raised from the dead in three days by the Most High God, to live and to reign forever.
Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection gives believers the gift of eternal life with God. The word tells us that all of us have fallen short in regard to keeping God’s commandments. This shortfall is sin and sin has a high cost. The wages of sin is death, which is eternal separation from our Creator. And Jesus is the living sacrifice that reconciles us back to the creator.
I love Resurrection Sunday because, after all the recalling, I hear the call from that risen Savior who we celebrate. The call is to share this Jesus with others. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus invites His followers to go and make disciples, to not keep to ourselves the free gift of salvation and reconciliation with the Creator but to spread the word about the risen Savior and help others to follow Him closely.
This month, we’ll hear the greatest story ever told, retold in song and sermons, but it doesn’t stop there. We’re all called to tell this great story to others.
Reflection:
Who in your life needs to hear you speak about Jesus? Ask God to always show you the open door.