Friendships often are based on commonalities. Growing up in the same neighborhood, attending the same college, children involved in the same activity, etc. Many like to group people into categories, referring to race, nationality, religious affiliation, etc. How do you really see the world? For God there are only two groupings: those who have accepted His Son as Savior, and those who haven’t. At a glance we don’t have the ability to figure out which person is and is not in Christ. All distinctions evaporate through the lens of Galatians 3:28, (There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus).

We would do well to never forget the words in Matthew 28:6, “He is not here; for He is risen,”. For those who visit the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, these are the words etched at the exit of the tomb. It is the fact of the resurrection and its implications for us that should motivate us to reach the world for Him. This is not just a nice story, but a historical fact. If any have doubts surrounding this event, please read Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Christ”. Armed with this fact and realizing the truth from Matthew 7:13-14, that only the remnant, the few, are on that narrow road to salvation, how can we remain silent. Jesus concludes His time after His resurrection and before His ascension into heaven in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, 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”.

This is not a gentle suggestion from Jesus, or a recommendation to a choice few. This is a commission. Our marching orders, for all of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. There is no shortage of excuses why this isn’t done, but Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Your mission field differs from mine. And mine differs from someone else. This is how the whole world can be reached, if only we make the decision to be faithful laborers. May we all open our eyes to the world that surrounds us and rather than seeing the problems… cast our eyes on the opportunities. Father, we ask you to lead us by the Holy Spirit to those you have prepared to receive the seeds of truth. We pray for the harvest and ask that you would use us to draw those around us to Yourself. In Jesus name. Amen.