Through the Bible Lamentations 5 - Ezekiel 1, Hebrews 8
Good morning,
Do you know much about your geneology? On my dad's side we can track ours back into the late 1600's. There are many that can track theirs back to the Mayflower and beyond. The Jews including the Pharisees tracked their ancestry back to Abraham.
Do you ever think of your spiritual geneology? Who was instrumental in leading you to Christ? Who had instrumental in their lives?
For today's verse we'll go to Matthew 28 where we find the "Great Commission:
Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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,
or from The Message
Matt 28:18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
When you consider your spiritually family tree at some point you should realize that if you don't "pass it on" your branch of the tree would end with you. Jesus purpose is that we bear fruit' which in a nutshell is making disciples.
In making disciples we don't have to be great evangelists, God can use us where we are, using the gifts that He has given us to spread His Kingdom for His glory.
Do you want to see an example of such a spiritual "family tree"? I've shared it before, but read the story of Edward Kimball as told by Gregg Laurie.
Each of us must ask ourselves, “How am I personally taking care of this responsibility to get the gospel out? ” While true that not every Christian is called as an evangelist, every Christian is called to personally evangelize. A great example of this was a man named Edward Kimball.
"Kimball was a faithful Christian who wanted to be used by God. He was not a pastor or a missionary, but he knew that he should go and share the gospel. Kimball felt especially burdened for a young man named Dwight, who worked in a Chicago shoe store. He mustered up the courage to go and tell Dwight about Jesus. Much to Kimball's delight, he responded and gave his life to Christ. Dwight later began a preaching ministry. He became known as D.L.Moody, one of the greatest evangelists in church history.
When Moody was out preaching one day, a man named Frederick Meyer was listening. Meyer was already a Christian, but Moody's preaching motivated him to enter full-time ministry. We know him as F.B. Meyer. Kimball reached Moody, and Moody reached Meyer, but the story doesn't end there.
When Meyer was preaching, a young man named Wilbur Chapman responded and gave his life to Christ. Chapman felt called to be an evangelist. One of the young men he took under his wing was a former professional baseball player who, also wanted to preach the gospel and did so with great success. His name was Billy Sunday.
Sunday held a crusade in Charlotte, North Carolina, where many people came to faith. The people there were so thrilled that they wanted to have another crusade. Sunday wasn't available, so an evangelist named Mordecai Hamm was invited to speak. While the campaign wasn't considered as successful as the first one, a young, lanky farm boy walked down the aisle on one of the final nights. We know him as Billy Graham.
Kimball reached Moody, who touched Meyer, who reached Chapman, who helped Sunday, who reached the businessmen in Charlotte who invited Hamm, who then touched Billy Graham. Talk about a legacy. You may not be a Billy Graham, but you might be an Edward Kimball. We all have been entrusted with the gospel. We all have a part to play.
What will your spiritual family tree look like? Think about your roots as well. Thank God for the person He used to bring you into His kingdom.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Matt 28:16-20
The Great Commission
(Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23; Acts 1:6-8)
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 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.*
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