By Jon Beaty
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives to join His Father in heaven. Jesus left His disciples to finish the work He started, but they were not left wondering what to do next. Jesus had given them clear instructions before His ascension, so they knew exactly what was expected of them.
Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission. The same commission is ours today: "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, 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." (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)
Jesus also promised the Holy Spirit to guide, equip and empower His disciples to carry out the commission, and provide prophetic insights into the trials and blessings ahead of them. This promise is also ours:
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13-15 NKJV)
The Great Commission and Holy Spirit are given to all members of the body of Christ—His church.
It's Time to Go!
Every transition in church leadership is an opportunity to remember our God-given purpose. It's not necessary, and it's not a good idea, to wait for the next leader to tell us what to do. Jesus has already given the command and the tools to guide and equip us. The command is ours to follow, and the tools are ours to use.
Church leaders help us get organized, give encouragement, warn of dangers, and point the way. The most effective leaders will point us to the Way: Jesus. Jesus remains as the Shepherd of the church, and our effectiveness as His disciples depends on our ability to continue following Him, investing the gifts He has given us.
As our interim pastor has departed, Sandy Seventh-day Adventist Church faces another transition. While we await our next pastor, I encourage you to stay focused.
“We are so busy thinking about tomorrow that we forget the eternal significance of today. God’s will is done in the small, faithful steps we take now.” - Dietrich Bonhoffer, The Cost of Discipleship.
What's Your Next Step?
While our tradition is to go to church each Sabbath, our mission is much broader. Instead of telling His disciples to go to church, He commanded them to go into the world and make more disciples by teaching. Jesus gives the command and the power to obey it.
The adage, "Practice what you preach," is a reminder that our words and actions carry influence. Allow the Holy Spirit to align your words and actions with Jesus' life and purpose.
"The consistent life, the holy conversation, the unswerving integrity, the active, benevolent spirit, the godly example—these are the mediums through which light is conveyed to the world." Ellen White, Desire of Ages p. 307.
Can You Imagine?
Let's say, in the next moment, you receive and use all the power Jesus wants to pour through His Spirit into your life to fulfill your part in fulfilling the Great Commission? How will your next step be different than the ones you took earlier today? What would be different about your conversations with others? What positive changes would people notice in you?
God wants to do greater things through us than we can imagine. Will you ask Him to? We don't need to wait for what's next. We can begin now.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NKJV)