Daily Devotional (GPS)
All Authority Given: Go and Make Disciples
Daily Scripture
Matthew 28:18-20a
18 Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Early in Matthew’s story, the devil showed Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,” offering, “I’ll give you all these if you bow down and worship me” (Matthew 4:8-10). Jesus refused—the source and price were more than he would accept. Now, having given himself a much harder path, he could tell his followers, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth”—the authority to pursue God’s mission to restore the world to its intended peace and beauty.
- Easter was a beginning, not an ending. As scholar N. T. Wright noted, “Jesus’ resurrection is not about proving some point, or offering people a new spiritual experience. It is about God’s purpose that must now be fulfilled.” Seeing the risen Jesus meant being commissioned “to a new work, a new life, a new way of life in which everything he told them before will start to come true.” * What new work and way of life has Jesus given you? How does knowing Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” give you confidence to live out that calling?
- The central element in Jesus’ commission to his disciples was that they were to make other disciples. “Jesus here commissions his followers to convert and train disciples from all peoples, climaxing a theme that runs through Matthew’s Gospel (see 1:3–6; 2:1–2; 4:15; 8:5–13; 10:15; 11:21–23; 12:41–42; 15:22–28; 24:14; 27: 54).” ** That commission is foundational for all that Resurrection aims to do. What does “making disciples” look like in your everyday life—at work, in your neighborhood, with family and friends?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you defeated death and gave your followers a world-changing mission. Give me the same courage to be your witness that you gave those first disciples, without whose faithfulness I might never have known you. Amen.
GPS Insights
Lauren Cook
Lauren Cook, who serves as Director of Online Engagement & Entry Points at Resurrection, wrote today’s Insight. She is a self-proclaimed foodie, a bookworm, and is always planning her next trip. She has the sweetest (and sassiest) daughter, Carolina Rae, a rockstar husband, Austin, and a cutie pup named Thunder. She loves connecting with others so let her know the best place you've ever eaten, best book you've ever read, or best place you've ever been!
The resurrection is central to what we believe as Christians. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain. Death would have the final word. The death and resurrection of Christ changed everything and gave believers hope and life eternal. And yet, it’s easy to stop there.
It’s easy to celebrate Easter as one day, one act, one moment in time. However, Easter goes far beyond this one day and far beyond one act. After the resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciple’s multiples times as the risen Christ. In Matthew 28, we see an important directive that is critical to the full understanding of Easter.
“Therefore, go.”
As Pastor Adam taught on Easter weekend, if we accept all the “good” in the “good news” but we do not act upon it, we’ve missed it.
The story that God has been writing for ages, and is still writing, is not one that simply happens to us. It is our story. God has written us a love story like no other and our reaction to such love should be that we become so filled that we cannot help but overflow and share that love with all we encounter. We must become both active participants in the grander story, while also becoming storytellers that bring others along.
“Therefore, go.”
Tell the story, your story, of joy and light and life. Tell the stories of where God has shown up for you, tell the stories of where you see the Holy Spirit active and present in the world, tell the stories of where you found hope in the darkness, tell the stories. It is not selfish, it is required.
“Therefore, go.”
Your stories will bring others into Easter, every day of the year.
What is the GPS?
Resurrection offers a free tool for those who wish to read the Bible daily. Our Grow/Pray/Study guide (GPS) provides a Bible reading, Scripture reflections based on the passage, inspirational quotes from leading Bible scholars, questions to help readers apply the Bible to their faith journey, and a daily prayer guide at the end of each day’s reflection. Many readers have told us the GPS has strengthened their spiritual growth and helped them better understand how to let the Bible guide them in Christian living.
