Devotional Countdown: No. 50. All authority belongs to Jesus

Matthew 28:18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (CSB)

Ephesians 1:20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Known as the Great Commission, the passage succinctly explains the basic task of all disciples of Jesus. Reading this passage is a reminder that the goal of our trip to Kenya fulfills the most basic calling of Christian disciples: to take the Gospel to all nations.

But as we consider the details of this task (cost, distance of travel, cultural barriers, the comfort of staying home, the dangers of a sinful world), we might find ourselves doubting our ability to truly fulfill this calling. So, let's begin our devotional journey with this powerful reminder: ALL AUTHORITY has been given (BY GOD THE FATHER) to Jesus.

How? Jesus has earned the right to be called King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords due to his resurrection of the dead. He is worthy to be called Savior, and all authority belongs to him.

So what? We need not fear the chaos of our world. We need not fear our lack of resources. We need not fear uncomfortable moments. We need not fear an spiritual or material resistance to the Gospel of Jesus. Jesus hold all authority in his hands. We will follow his lead into missions. When he opens doors, we will walk through. If he closes a door, then we will look for the next opening that he makes available to us. We seek Jesus' leadership. We submit to his calling and will. When we follow him in faith, we will see his power on display. We will see God-sized things through the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

• Thank God for saving us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• Thank Jesus for calling each of us to be on this trip.

• Thank Jesus for being in control of our circumstances and holding the powers of the world in his hands.

• Pray for peace in our hearts, clarity in our planning, and safety in our travels as we journey into the world that needs to hear about the good news of Jesus' resurrection.

• Ask for God's power to be displayed in each of us.

• Pray our team will submit to the move of the Spirit.