UNIFY 8 of 11: From DOUBT to the JOY of MISSION

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Doubt continues to shadow the hearts of some of the disciples, even as Jesus is about to return to heaven (Matthew 28). Doubt, hesitation, or the spirit of slavery (Romans 8) are powerful influences in our hearts too. Jesus invites his disciples to see Him as Son of God, who has received all power in heaven and earth. Seeing who He truly is, they are invited into His mission. They are disciples: they are now expected to make disciples.

Why might you hesitate when you hear Jesus’s invitation today? Can you see Him as King of kings and Lord of lords? If you do, then you know that the whole world is his dominion. Everything that exists belongs to Him. All times and places are under his rule. Perhaps we might all be challenged to accept that Jesus is Lord, when we see a world full of sin, suffering, and death. Our individual lives are also under these shadows. It is truly an act of faith to trust Jesus, and to trust that He is in charge.

But even this is not enough. Jesus asks to take on the world, in order to extend his reign. The true disciples of Christ don’t just trust Him, they follow him into mission. This mission calls us out of ourselves. Are we even more hesitant? It’s easier to understand focusing on Jesus – He is lovable, and loves us first. But the world seems like something we should avoid.

So why is this Jesus’s command? We need to experience, to take the first steps, in order to experience the Joy of the Gospel. Jesus asks us to let go of our hesitations so that we can share in His joy. This joy is rooted in His oneness with the Father, but it also comes from sharing in His mission. You will experience the Joy of the Gospel when you share your faith in Jesus, in little or big ways, with people in your life.

Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit, who is one with the Father and the Son, breaks the chains of spiritual slavery, and sets us free for mission, so that we can share the joy of making disciples.