Today's Passage - Matthew 28:16-20

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Matthew 28:16-20   Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 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."     The Father God in the Trinity is one who sends people. John 3:16 says that "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son," which means that He sent His son to the world. When Jesus was on earth, He repeatedly called Father God "Father who sent me," because Father God is the God who sends. No only that, Jesus is also God who sends. John 20:21 says that "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." The Lord also said in Matthew 28:19 that "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations," so Jesus also sent His disciples into the world. Holy Spirit is also God who sends. In Acts chapter 8, Philip was sent to the desert by the Holy Spirit to share the gospel with the eunuch; In Acts chapter 13, in the church of Antioch, Holy Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas to preach the gospel in Europe. Even today, the Holy Spirit is still sending; if it weren't for the missionaries sent by the Holy Spirit to China, you and I won't become Christians today; if it wasn't for the sending of the Holy Spirit, no one will leave everything behind and enter into the wilderness to continue witnessing for the Lord. This God who sends is an all-power and all-sufficient God, but He's willing to work together with those of us who are weak in order to accomplish His eternal plan, isn't that wonderful!   Back in the Old Testament, it took God much effort in order to make way for the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Generation after generation of Israelites, however, disobeyed God, and yet He still guided them with much patience. Finally, Jesus Christ was born in the world in God's timing, which seemed to have brought God's victory. Even the angels and army of heaven were holding their breath and waiting to see how Jesus Christ was going to prepare Himself, work, suffer, and finally die on the cross to loudly proclaim to the world: "It is finished." God's plan of redemption is finished, the authority of the devil has been crushed, and it was time for God's kingdom to expand! All the angels and army of heaven were rejoicing and getting ready to fight for God. Surprisingly, after Jesus resurrected from death, He didn't send any angel or army of heaven, but instead He actually turned to the eleven weak disciples. The Lord entrusted them with the mission for God's Kingdom, and told them that "go make disciples of all nations." The angels and army of heaven must have been wondering - Was that a mistake, Jesus? What if they failed? Thanks to God, even though we are weak, God chose to work with us to accomplish His will!    Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, I thank you because you are a wonderful God. Even though we are weak, you are willing to send us to work with you in order to accomplish your wonderful work. Give us an obedient heart to work with you in our daily life, so that your name will receive the greatest glory in us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!!