Verse
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
— Matthew 28:18-20 tniv
Thought
All authority! No one else can contradict, raise questions, or cast doubt. Jesus speaks with the authority that only God can have — all authority! What he gives are our marching orders as his followers. We call it the Great Commission. But as we contemplate the work and role of the Holy Spirit, we hear the clear reminder that baptism is something important to God and is something that God — as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — ultimately does. Matthew begins and ends the earthly ministry of Jesus with an emphasis on baptism and the involvement of Father, Son, and Spirit (Matt. 3:13-17). The emphasis on God — as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — being rooted in our spiritual lives is also picked up and emphasized by Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19, which will be today's prayer.
Prayer
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
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Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
— Matthew 28:18-20 tniv
Thought
All authority! No one else can contradict, raise questions, or cast doubt. Jesus speaks with the authority that only God can have — all authority! What he gives are our marching orders as his followers. We call it the Great Commission. But as we contemplate the work and role of the Holy Spirit, we hear the clear reminder that baptism is something important to God and is something that God — as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — ultimately does. Matthew begins and ends the earthly ministry of Jesus with an emphasis on baptism and the involvement of Father, Son, and Spirit (Matt. 3:13-17). The emphasis on God — as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — being rooted in our spiritual lives is also picked up and emphasized by Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19, which will be today's prayer.
Prayer
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
