Devotion: Go Therefore

Please take the time to read Matthew 28:11-20

A friend and I were recently talking about our country’s version of democracy and that it caters to extroverts. Campaigning…working a room; going from event to event; knocking on doors of strangers; speaking to small and large audiences; shaking hands with people whose names you will never remember; asking for money – or even a vote can be can be overwhelming or panic inducing for those people (or those of us, as the case may be) who are energized by a solitary cup of coffee, a good book in a quiet place, a solo walk around the neighborhood or a lengthy one-on-one conversation.

It seems there are millions of people whose ideas are not contemplated, perspectives not debated, voices not heard, experiences not considered, and stories not shared around the table in government institutions.

And yet, as Pastor Sarah talked about in her sermon, every story matters. Every. Single. One.  

So, when Jesus says go make disciples. Of all nations. Baptize them. Teach them to obey all of my commandments. Those words – those final words before He ascends – can almost swallow you up. It is such a tall order that it can be paralyzing. And it can feel a little like He is talking to the extroverts, people who may love to evangelize, or whose Gallup strengths include Command and WOO, or who need to say more than the typical 13,000-16,000 words per day.  And He is – but He is talking to all of us.

So where to start? We can all make disciples by first being a disciple. We can reach nations with God’s grace by starting with our neighbors. We can baptize believers by receiving them as they are, as God receives them. We can teach followers by being in community with one or hundreds of God’s people and by applying his teachings to our everyday lives.  

And most importantly, we can all take comfort in knowing that He is with us always, to the end of the age.

Let our stories include living The Great Commission in a way that may be unique to each of us and help to make our individual stories matter.

Good, Gracious and Generous God,
You made each of us with our own set of gifts and a unique story to tell. Help us to use those gifts to tell your story as you called us to do in your final words. Thank you for being with us always, to the end of the age. Amen.

Written by Dacia Kruse

Dacia lives in Lincoln. She is a lobbyist and mediator through The Mediation Center where she primarily works with parents who are separating and trying to figure out how to co-parent their kids.

She has been a member of Sheridan since the late 1990’s and serves on the Sheridan Church Council. She regularly attends Theology Roundtable and serves on a Saturday evening hospitality team, the Sunday morning Welcome Center team and as a Wedding Coordinator. In her free time, she likes to read, travel, shop and decorate her house.