Scripture Verses
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Devotion
These three verses are jam packed with messages for us, but being limited to 300 words, not 300 pages, I will tell you what happened last night at aerobics. While we stood around gabbing and not paying much attention, our leader was fiddling with the stereo. But this went on for some time – well past start up time. Finally, one gal walked up to the front, took the power cord from the back, and plugged it in. Problem solved quite simply and we all had a giggle.
This scripture fundamentally boils down to three things: - the Power given to Jesus, - the Purpose given to us, and - the Promise of His Presence with us. Our Purpose is quite clear and is not an option, but to fulfill this commission, this commandment, to reach and teach others we must be connected to His Power and to His Presence. The Problem is like that above. If we just go puttering around, thinking we can perform our Purpose on our own, or not even thinking at all, we are doomed to failure. So how do we make the right connection? – How do we Plug in to His Power and His Presence so that we might please God and honor His Purpose for us?
Problem solved quite simply – we must Pray Persistently.
Prayer
O Lord, Help us to stay Plugged in so that we might perform according to your plan for us to reach out to others. When circumstances of this world trip over our cords, remind us to plug back in, that we may recognize our constant need for you and submit anew to you in Prayer. Help us to know the Power of the Holy Spirit that we might be effective witnesses for you. Help us to know the Presence of Christ with us and within us that we might be transformed into His likeness of purest love. Amen.
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