Jesus’ Command to Go
Sunday’s Verse:
From Matthew 28:19 ESV
Jesus said, “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”
Months ago, someone who subscribes to this Substack asked why I wasn’t charging for this devotional. “Most people who use Substack charge their readers something,” he said. Yes, I know that many people who use Substack charge their readers - I subscribe and pay $6.00 a month for Andrew Marchand’s podcast via Substack (he covers sports media news).
Why don’t I charge even a nominal $1.00 a month? It’s simple. This is a morning devotional written by a Lutheran pastor. Charging anything would make me feel like mud. So, it is free and will remain free.
A morning devotional is supposed to do a number of things:
It gets the reader into the Bible each day. Whether just one verse or two, the reader is taking a moment to dive into God’s Word. Part of a pastor’s ministry is to help people engage with the Bible daily, and this short devotional does that.
Devotionals should challenge one’s faith. All of us sinners do things in the course of our days that are sinful. A devotional is meant to identify these challenges and reflect them to its readers. By seeing the sinfulness in our lives, we cling to the cross of Jesus even tighter.
We all need to hear or read about God’s love for us daily. Sermons do that on Sundays. Devotionals try to do that the rest of the week.
I thought about this while reading our Gospel reading for Trinity Sunday (today). Matthew 28:19, specifically. All of us are called to “go” and teach unbelievers about Jesus through word and action. How Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, came from heaven to earth to redeem us, sinful people. Whether we are kindergarteners or retirees, there is no retirement or days off in Christianity. Our whole lives are given to God to show our love for Him and our neighbor through telling and living out the Gospel of Jesus.
On this Sunday, read Jesus’s command and go with a loving smile on your face!
I believe that, in a small way, this devotional is part of my going out to tell Jesus’ Gospel. And truthfully, that is why this is free.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Merciful Father, keep my heart centered on telling and living out Your Son’s command to tell the Gospel of Jesus daily. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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