Good morning Advent Family!
I love when God seems to be moving and speaking and we aren’t even aware of it. Last week I was teaching the kids about the Great Commission then Pastor Will wrote a devotional about being ambassadors for Christ. That always grabs my attention, causes me to pause, then I think about what God is trying to show us when a common thread pops up over more than one spot. I think God wants to remind us that following Jesus is not a stationary calling, it’s a sending.
At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus gives what we now call the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)
That word go isn’t optional. It’s not reserved for pastors, missionaries, or the especially bold. It’s the natural next step of anyone who has encountered the risen Christ. Faith, by design, moves.
Here’s where it gets really interesting. In Acts 1:8, Jesus adds a layer that both grounds and empowers that command: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” So we’re called to go—but not alone, and not in our own strength.
The tension a lot of us feel is right here. We hear “go” and immediately think of all the reasons we’re not ready: Not equipped. Not qualified. Not bold enough. But Jesus never said, “Go once you’ve figured everything out.” He said the Spirit would come first, and the going would flow from that power.
And notice the pattern: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth. It starts close and familiar, then stretches outward into places that are increasingly uncomfortable, even resistant. “Go” doesn’t always mean crossing an ocean, it might mean crossing the room. The call isn’t just geographic; it’s relational and spiritual. Being a witness doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means telling the truth about what you’ve seen and experienced. It’s a life that quietly (and sometimes boldly) says, “Jesus has changed me—and He can meet you too.”
So maybe the question isn’t if you’re called to go. That part’s already settled.
The better question is: Where is your next step? Who is your “Jerusalem” right now? Where might God be nudging you beyond what’s comfortable? And are you relying on your own ability—or the power He already promised?
You don’t have to manufacture boldness because the same Jesus who said “Go” is the one who said, “I am with you always.”
Jesus,
Thank You for going first. You didn’t wait for us to find our way to You—You came to us. You stepped into our brokenness, walked among the sick and the oppressed, and reached for those everyone else avoided. You didn’t just tell us to go… You showed us how. Not only did You give us the perfect example, You gave us Your Spirit. You didn’t leave us to figure this out on our own. You gave us power. Courage. A presence within us that equips us to do what we could never do by ourselves.
So soften our hearts, Jesus. Make us willing where we’ve been hesitant. Break through our comfort and our fear. Help us to see people the way You do. Give us feet that are quick to move—quick to love, quick to serve, quick to go wherever You send us. Whether it’s across the street or across the world, let us not hesitate when You call.
Amen.
Kimberly Jewell
Family Ministry Director