Our Lord’s Command

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19.
Thus Christ gave His disciples their commission. He made full provision for the prosecution of the work, and took upon Himself the responsibility for its success. So long as they obeyed His word, and worked in connection with Him, they could not fail. Go to all nations, He bade them. Go to the farthest part of the habitable globe…. Labor in faith , for the time will never come when I will forsake you.
The Saviour’s commission to the disciples included all the believers. It includes all believers in Christ to the end of time. It is a fatal mistake to suppose that the work of saving souls depends alone on the ordained minister. All to whom the heavenly inspiration has come are put in trust with the gospel. All who receive the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. For this work the church was established, and all who take upon themselves its sacred vows are thereby pledged to be co-workers with Christ.
We are to be consecrated channels, through which the heavenly life is to flow to others. The Holy Spirit is to animate and pervade the whole church, purifying and cementing hearts. Those who have been buried with Christ in baptism are to rise to newness of life, giving a living representation of the life of Christ…. You are dedicated to the work of making known the gospel of salvation. Heaven’s perfection is to be your power.
The Duke of Wellington was once present where a party of Christian men were discussing the possibility of success in missionary effort among the heathen. They appealed to the duke to say whether in his judgment such efforts were likely to prove a success commensurate to the cost. The old soldier replied: “Gentlemen, what are your marching orders? Success is not the question for you to discuss. If I read your orders aright, they run thus, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Gentlemen, obey your marching orders.”
The Faith I Live By p. 149
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue prayers for my classmate’s healing of the cold, severe cough and Pink eye, which arrived during the night, last night! Her heart valve replacement surgery has been postponed due to her immune system being compromised…RJL
—-Please pray for Kitty who is going on hospice. Rose
—-Please pray for a dear little elderly lady who is homeless. She looks to be in her 70s and she is so sweet and quiet and mild mannered. I see her crying quite often as she stands alone out in the heat. I have talked to her twice and told her I would be putting her on this prayer group. Connie
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Dear Friends,
When we lived in Utah, Ron worked at the Salt lake City airport. One day, he was outside working on an airplane. The owner of the airplane was standing there watching him work and talking with him. When Ron finished, the man got into his airplane for a few minutes. He decided to talk to Ron again and started to get out of the plane, but he could not open the door. It was stuck. He pushed hard, but the door held fast. Ron saw the man’s problem and started pulling. The two of them tried and tried to open that stubborn door. Suddenly, the optometrist, feeling quite claustrophobic, gave an extra hard push. The door flew open and hit Ron right in the face. He didn’t get hurt, because his glasses took all the force of that door flying open. His glasses, on the other hand, did not fare so well. They had split in two and went flying off his face and onto the asphalt.
The man, who happened to be an optometrist, was very apologetic. He assured Ron that he would replace the glasses. Ron told him that it was OK, as he needed a new pair of glasses anyway. Even though outwardly he sounded casual about the whole thing, inwardly he was wondering how he could afford to get another pair of glasses right then. Thankfully, the optometrist insisted he come to his office for a new pair. Meanwhile, Ron taped the two halves of his glasses together so he could see to work the rest of the day and drive the 47 miles home.
The next day Ron had his exam and soon had a pair of glasses. About two weeks later, Ron received a package in the mail. When he opened it, he was more than surprised to see another pair of glasses, a very expensive pair. The frames were the best they made at that time and very stylish. They were also a much better style than his original glasses. Ron had always worn heavy, black plastic frames. These new glasses were light, silver-colored metal frames. Even though Ron got them in 1988, he still wears those frames. He also has the other glasses that the optometrist made for him and uses those when he gets new lenses in the other pair. What started out as a trial became a great blessing that has lasted for sixteen years.
So it is with the Christian’s life. Our Heavenly Father allows trials to come into our life to strengthen us, to draw us closer to Himself. He “will not suffer [us] to be tempted above [what we] are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that [we] may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13 The apostle Paul had an experience that was not pleasant, but it was needful for him. He says, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor 12:7-10
The most striking example is Job, who kept his faith amid greater trials than we have ever experienced. He lost everything that was dear to him: his family, his wealth, his health— everything. Even his friends, who had come to visit him in his affliction were no comfort. They misjudged him. They considered him a great sinner who was receiving judgment from God. They added to his distress by accusing him of things he had not even thought of doing. Even though Job did not understand why all those terrible things were happening to him, he trusted God completely. During his long trial he was able to say, “when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 And so it was. When he had been tried, God gave him ten times more blessings than he had had before.
When our world seems to be crashing in upon us, when our friends misjudge and forsake us, when it seems there is nowhere to turn, let us look to our loving Saviour, Who has trod this way before us. He has promised to be with us in all our trials. He will turn that trial into a blessing just as He did for Ron. He assures us, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour” Isa 43:1-3
Let us, in the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ stand firm no matter how difficult the trial, no matter what is transpiring around us “that the trial of [our] faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7
Rose