A Message Of Hope To All Nations
Or
A Message To Be Shared
Sunday May 10, 2020
Scripture To Consider:
“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying, ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs: for a worker is worthy of his food.’”
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.” Matthew 10.5-15
Something To Consider:
Jesus was not establishing a prejudice approach to evangelism. Jesus has already ministered to Gentiles. He has already preached the message of salvation in the region of Samaria. He has healed many who were of a Gentile background. God chose the nation of Israel to be His mouthpiece, His witness to the world. Here, He is giving those of Jewish descent the opportunity to respond to the message of repentance through faith in Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul, writing in his letter to the Roman believers stated; “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek [Gentile or others].” And so, Jesus sent His disciples first to those of Jewish descent and later to the Gentiles, which would include all other nationalities.
But the real question is, to whom are we being sent? Knowing that the kingdom is at hand, and knowing that the end of this age is fast approaching, who are we being sent to labor among? Knowing what awaits those who reject the gospel of Jesus, what message will we share with others? What message are our lives constantly proclaiming for others we come into contact with?
Jesus declared in John 12.48; “He [or she] who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him [or her]; the word that I have spoken will judge him [or her] in the last day.” Therefore, Jesus revealed what message we should be sharing. We should be proclaiming all things Jesus spoke and taught and that which has been divinely inspired to be written and preserved in the canon of Scripture.
This According To Jesus website, through these lessons of a lifetime series of articles pertaining to the life of Jesus and the words of Jesus, exist to be of help to others in their observing all things Jesus taught. This website, According To Jesus, also exists to be an end time training tool to this 21st century generation of true believers. And it is because these words of Jesus will judge us and others in the end!
Something Else To Consider:
This is a training exercise for the disciples, but there is something for us to learn from this directive. In Matthew 28 Jesus instructed His disciples and all future believing saints by saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all 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.”
The message was by God’s design to those of Jewish descent first, but the message was also to all nations and to all nationalities. And yet, for men, women, and young people to reject this message of hope to all nations is to sign their own eternal death warrant. It is by no other name whereby humankind can be saved. It is through no other means than through Jesus whereby mankind can obtain eternal life!
Jesus strongly warned all who reject Him and His message in Matthew 10.32-33, by instructing; “Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him [or her] I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him [or her] I will also deny [reject] before My Father who is in heaven.” This is indeed a message of warning, but also a message of hope to all nations and a message to be shared!
Something More To Consider:
As mentioned last week in Acts chapter 1 verse 8, just before Jesus ascended into heaven, He made a promise and a proclamation to those believers looking on to reinforce His earlier commissioning them to go and make disciples of all nations. He declared to them and to us, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
And yet, sometimes it seems easier to go around the world, rather than going around the corner with the message of God’s love. Let us first labor where we live, where we work, and where God’s will is for us in this life. Let us first share the love, hope, and gospel message of enduring to the end with those closest to us, whether at home, at school, in the workplace, and in our communities.
And yet, how do we achieve the sharing of a message of hope to all nations and those of our own family and acquaintances? According to Jesus, as true born-again end time believers in Him, we are the salt of the earth. In other words, we are to be the spiritual influence in others’ lives by way of our own everyday lives as we follow Jesus and remain obedient to His Word.
Our lives should radiate the message that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and can reside within us through the repentance of our sin and our obedience to Jesus Christ and all His commands. But that message is not being declared! The message of importance that Jesus taught has been set aside for a more human endorsed compromising message. How shameful!
A Few Final Words:
Jesus also instructed us in Matthew chapter 5, as true Christ-like faithful ambassadors, that we are the light of the world. Jesus explained in Matthew 5.16; “Let your light so shine before men [women and young people], that they [all nations] may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” How in this wayward world are we doing as the light and salt of the world?
Are we truly a preserving salt-like saving influence to those around us? Can others truly testify to the light of Jesus and the enlightening effect of His Word possessing us on a daily basis? Have we become living messages of hope to all nations or have we hidden the light of Jesus behind or under the deception of false messages proclaimed by false prophets? What message is it that our lives are proclaiming this Mother’s Day 2020?
The message of the kingdom is an eternal message of hope to all nations for all times and for all people of every generation. But it begins next door, across the street, and just around the corner. And according to Jesus, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Yes, that is an eternal message to be shared!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, teach us to be willing to grow where it is that You have planted us. Teach us to willingly and obediently labor for You where we live. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 