Go… we are to always, be on the go. Going through some of the original material written when we planted mosaic: Mosaic would be a missional church: Local, national/continental, International – both a sending church and a supporting church (1Cor; 2Co 8-9). And we have been and we are – reinvigorating these principles in this post-pandemic world.
Yes, we are commanded to go, though, but we must see that it is Jesus who builds the Church, who gathers us from the ends of the earth, as we are…
Even with that, Jesus’ intentions would be that this would be a partnership, to give us the privilege of joining Him in His work, that we would have a stake in this, an opportunity to not only be excited about our own saving, but be an integral part of the saving of others – brothers and sister – with whom we will spend eternity! Grateful, appreciative, in a love embrace that begins here and lasts…
Matthew 16:18 Jesus said “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”
But it is Jesus’ desire that we be a part, that we do this gathering, plundering, this saving, together, with Him…
Matthew 28:16-20 “16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Ours is, with Him, or, Him with us, to “go, and make disciples…”
Romans 10:13-15 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Isaiah 52:7-8)
We are to all be on the “go” being alert to and aware of those we encounter and being prepared to give a reason for our hope when we are (inevitably) asked (1Peter 3)
But, some of us are to go further out…
Acts 1:8 “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
With what heart are we all to go??
2Corinthians 1:3-7 “3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”
And how is it that we bring comfort to those we meet? The same thing Jesus did… Go! As He was sent by the Father, we go, as sent by Him. (Jn 3:16; Jn 20:20-22)
Isaiah 58:6-9 “6“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness a will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
…and how can we a part, who can we go, even if we’re not the one going? Support?
James 1:27/1John 3:17 Taking care of the widow and orphan, seeing the need, we and having the means, we meet it…
Mark 12:42 there is no such things as not being able, as no gift, to gesture is too small
Luke 10:25 Learning to live in a way that allows us to be ready in and out of season
We are to all be on the “go” being alert to and aware of those we encounter and being prepared to give a reason for our hope when we are (inevitably) asked (1Peter 3)
Colossians 4:3 “…pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…”
