Marching Orders - Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. - Matthew 28:18-20

    All authority in heaven and on earth? Who but God could ever possibly wield that kind of power and authority? And yet in exercising that power and authority He, Christ our King, gives us our nonnegotiable marching orders: make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to observe all the things He has commanded us! There’s no wiggle-room, no expansion or contraction of Christ’s parting command. Jesus not only gave us His command but described what the end result of a successful campaign would look like. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—  the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” - John 14:15-17.  We will all show the results of successfully carrying out our orders with the obedience and the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit in those we have proselytized to. The end-game of successfully carrying out Christ’s Great Commission is the salvation of just one more soul. “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” - Luke 15:7.
    Turning souls to Christ is the focus of the Great commission. As Christians we are bound in our duty to do all we can, to preach in and out of season, to declare the glory of God to each and every person on the planet! To the extent that we do so our heavenly Father will say to us
“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” - Matthew 25:21.
    May we all follow our Christ-given marching orders and enter into the joy of our Lord.