“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew.28:18-20)
We all know the feeling.
You’re in a rush to get to work, cars are lining up at the red traffic light, and then the light goes green. But nobody moves. The person in the car right at the front of it all had put their car in neutral, had been doing their make-up in the mirror, was checking a text they received or maybe stalled their car. Whatever the reason, no one behind them cares and is quicker onto their car horns than a kid licks an ice-cream on a hot summer’s day.
In our modern day context, we all are green light specialists.
We know that as soon as that robot turns an emerald shade we are in gear and ready to push the accelerator flat. The crazy thing is that we seem to be more like the distracted, stalling, slow mover at the front when it comes to understanding our God given Kingdom mission. When Jesus gave His disciples the great commission charge at the end of Matthew.28, he was in effect giving them (and all of us to come) the green light to GO! The disciples’ reticence and slow moving nature needed one big final push from Jesus before He left them with His mission here on earth. They felt disqualified and unqualified for the task ahead.
But that’s why Jesus didn’t give them a pep talk about their abilities and skills to accomplish the task. He told them that HE had all the authority!
Once we come to terms with the fact that it isn’t our strengths and capabilities but rather His perfect nature and finished work, we begin to start seeing the green light shining over every aspect of our lives.
You want to teach your children and lead your spouse in spiritual matters but you feel you just can’t cause of your own short-comings? You long to invite your neighbour to alpha or to church but you’re really not that great with words? You want to tell your boss about that new idea you have but feel that he or she doesn’t know your name yet?
Stop waiting and stalling and fumbling around trying to get it all perfect before you do something, and realize Jesus is already perfect. And because of that, as His sons and daughters, the Father is declaring over you today, “go, step out, get moving and do something!”
Gabe Phillips
