Go ye

Bible Reading: Matthew 28 & Mark 16

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Jesus commissioned the disciples to go. There is a difference between go and stay. Think about the commands that a man might give to a cowdog or bird dog. "Stay", means don't move; remain where you are. No action is required in the command to stay. It simply means wait for further orders. However, "go" is very different. It means to advance. It means to proceed. It means that you must immediately begin making decisions because even in your going, you must make the first step and choose a direction.

Even if you were given the destination that you were to "go" to, you would still have to determine the path that would get you there. Each step that you take is really up to you. You can take the direct path or you can take a more circuitous route. The command "go" involves movement. In physics terms it includes velocity and momentum. You must accelerate and decelerate in order to "go".

Jesus gave the disciples the command, "Go". He also gave them the destination - into all the world. He told them the mission. They were to "preach the gospel to every creature." They had a lot of choices to make. They had to gain momentum. They had to accelerate. They had to go from being stationary to being in motion. And they did!

Now, the question is this: does this command apply to us today? Some would say, "No, that was for the apostles." However, when we look to the epistles which were given to the churches, we see the gospel mission still being emphasized.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God- ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

The churches were planted by the apostles but the mission did not end. It continues. The Lord's command still applies. We have a mission!

What - Go! Preach the gospel.
Where - into all the world.
To whom - To EVERY creature
How - In the power of Jesus. (Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20)

The Word is a call to action. It tells us, "Believe" and it tells us, "Go and preach." So what are you waiting for? The command is not to stay, but to go. Let's go!


In Christ,
Rody