Matthew 28:18–20
[18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] 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, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
[This part was originally an email set on Saturday, May 24th]
I have this fear that if we walk too much about the purpose that Jesus has given us, I will wear you all out with it.
If you are reading this now, it is probably because you were driven to your email today because you had some sort of responsibility to fulfill. You have stuff to do. Each of us is swimming in “to do” lists, daily anxieties, and overwhelming fears that seem to flood our thoughts and bring us to a point of emotional -and even physical- exhaustion.
So, as not to overwhelm you even more, I am hesitant to remind us that Jesus has given us a purpose. It may feel like one more “to do” that will push us over the edge and into the fetal position on the floor. (Maybe that is just me :)
Yet, here is an off-the-wall thought: what if Jesus gives us his purpose to make disciples because it is the very thing that will bring us rest?
What if Jesus invites us in to his universal plan because he knows that if we enter in his purpose then we will actually find the rest for our souls that we long for, but hardly ever find?
If that is true- and I believe that it is- then I would fail you by not inviting us into Jesus’ purpose. We would fail each other by not helping each other live a life trusting Jesus by showing up in people’s lives to form and shape them to trust Jesus along with us.
It would be my joy to do that with you. Are you willing to do that (and learn to do that) together?