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Longing for God’s Passion - Matthew 28:16-20

By Steve Jeantet | March 30, 2007

Key verse: “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.”

As we saw last week, Jesus promised us his very presence with us with the words, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” That promise should be precious to us, bringing comfort in times of confusion and joy in times of trial. But Jesus did not speak them for our benefit alone. He spoke them as the foundation for the words that immediately preceded them, that is, to go and make disciples.

God’s presence with us should be sweet to us. But it should also break our hearts over the things that break God’s heart. And what breaks God’s heart? A lost world, dying because they do not know that only in Christ can they truly live.

Humans are different than all the rest of creation because, according to Genesis 1:27, only humans have been made in the image of God. Even more, Ephesians 2:10, we read that we are God’s workmanship - that is, we are His beautiful work of art, His masterpiece. How passionately He longs for His special creations to know and enjoy His presence. But how will they every know unless we go and tell them about Christ?

To long for God’s passion should call us to take the words of Matthew 28 seriously. We must go and make disciples. We must long to see our family, our neighbors, our friends and even those far off come to love Christ as we have. Then we can all, together, enjoy the sweetness of God’s presence.

Reflection: When was the last time you shared the love of Christ with someone?
Do you really long to reach the lost the way that God does?
Application: Tell one person this week about Christ’s love for him/her.

Topics: Devotionals, Matthew |

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