Matthew Chapter 28
By Pastor Chris
Runners take your mark, get ready, get set…
I remember the first experience I had in a real race. It was 4th grade at our annual Field Day and I had been selected to run the longest race of the day, the 800-yard marathon (Hey, it was 4th grade and it sure felt like a marathon). The participants lined up as the gym teacher pointed out the orange cones that would mark the path to take through the course. We anxiously stood awaiting the signal to take off. On “GO” I shot off the line ahead of everyone. At the first cone I found myself in the lead and confidently surged forward thinking that I may already have this race wrapped up. When the pack came to the second cone I found I could not remember where to go to next! I quickly made up my mind and took off to the cone I believed to be next. As I led the group incorrectly through the course our dutiful gym teacher (who I thought had been cheering us on) was shouting that we had lost our way! With the finish line now in sight I found myself fading and was passed by one, two, three (a girl!), four, five (another girl!), six others; ultimately finishing in 7th place. Gassed and reeling from my homestretch fade, I received my participant’s ribbon and a lesson in how NOT to run a race.
We have all been in a race of some sort whether it was something athletic, snarfing down a pie or being the first to call “shotgun” when headed to the car. My favorite part of a race is the word “Go!” The word “go” gives direction and a signal to start doing something. When you read through the Gospels you see Jesus used the word “go” a lot. Go give. Go show. Go in peace. Go tell. Go wash. Go share. Go teach. Go baptize. Jesus sent people out with goals. He wanted his disciples to tie physical action with the ideas he was teaching them.
In Matthew 28 Jesus has this to say to his followers:
…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.
Jesus’ disciples were sent out into the world with a mission.
Maybe it’s time to rediscover the word “Go” in our journey with God.
Where is God sending you?
What goal does He have for you to run toward?
…Go!
