Good Morning,

The great commission (Matthew 28:19 - 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, ) from Jesus was to send out into the world, to the nations. For some that means going to work as a doctor, a dentist, a policeman, a fireman, a teacher, a computer tech, an application developer, a missionary, an evangelist, a pastor, and many, many more. For some that means go to work, for other that means leave home and go to a foreign country and share the Good News with them.

As we see in Matthew, there are three components to this command: Go, make disciples, baptize in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

So first we need to GO. In the case of workplace believers that means GO to work and shine for Jesus. Be an example of who Jesus is. Be available and ready, because when you do this, people are going to come up to you and ask questions like “Why do you always look so happy?” and “There is something different about you, but I can’t put my finger on it, can you help me understand?”. So be ready to give you testimony. WHERE you were before Jesus, HOW Jesus came into your life, WHERE you are now thanks to Jesus. Also, we may not always be “happy” since that is related to situations, but it is the JOY that is in us that people should be seeing. Going through the good and the bad times, enables us to show the light of Jesus, the JOY that goes beyond all understanding, the PEACE that goes beyond understand to all those around us.

Next, we need to MAKE DISCIPLES. A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example. So this means we need to teach and train others about who Jesus is, what Jesus has done, and how we are supposed to be: Called to a Relationship with God, Personal Commitment to Jesus, The Church Follows the Risen Christ, The Goals of Discipleship. Toward Self: Become Like Christ, Toward Others: Servanthood, Toward the World: The Great Commission.

From Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology for Disciple, Discipleship

Jesus concludes the commission with the crucial element of discipleship: the presence of the Master—"I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matt 28:20). Both those obeying the command and those responding are comforted by the awareness that the risen Jesus will continue to fashion all his disciples. The Master is always present for his disciples to follow.

As disciples become salt and light in this world, walking the narrow path, loving and providing hope to the world, they become living examples for others to follow. Such is Paul's entreaty, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Cor 11:1).

In our reading today from Acts 13:1-25 we see that the congregation in Antioch was praying and fasting. During this time:

2 the Holy Spirit spoke: "Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do." 3 So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off.

We then get to see them as they GO in the name of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

4 Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and caught a ship for Cyprus. 5 The first thing they did when they put in at Salamis was preach God's Word in the Jewish meeting places. They had John along to help out as needed. 6 They traveled the length of the island, and at Paphos came upon a Jewish wizard 7 who had worked himself into the confidence of the governor, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man not easily taken in by charlatans. The wizard's name was Bar-Jesus. He was as crooked as a corkscrew. 8 But Dr. Know-It-All (that's the wizard's name in plain English) stirred up a ruckus, trying to divert the governor from becoming a believer. 9 But Saul (or Paul), full of the Holy Spirit and looking him straight in the eye, said, 10 "You bag of wind, you parody of a devil - why, you stay up nights inventing schemes to cheat people out of God. 11 But now you've come up against God himself, and your game is up. You're about to go blind - no sunlight for you for a good long stretch." He was plunged immediately into a shadowy mist and stumbled around, begging people to take his hand and show him the way. 12 When the governor saw what happened, he became a believer, full of enthusiasm over what they were saying about the Master. 13 From Paphos, Paul and company put out to sea, sailing on to Perga in Pamphylia. That's where John called it quits and went back to Jerusalem.

14 From Perga the rest of them traveled on to Antioch in Pisidia. 15 After the reading of the Scriptures - God's Law and the Prophets - the president of the meeting asked them, "Friends, do you have anything you want to say? A word of encouragement, perhaps?" 16 Paul stood up, paused and took a deep breath, then said, "Fellow Israelites and friends of God, listen. 17 God took a special interest in our ancestors, pulled our people who were beaten down in Egyptian exile to their feet, and led them out of there in grand style. 18 He took good care of them for nearly forty years in that godforsaken wilderness 19 and then, having wiped out seven enemies who stood in the way, gave them the land of Canaan for their very own - 20 a span in all of about four hundred fifty years. 21 But then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, out of the tribe of Benjamin. After Saul had ruled forty years, 22 God removed him from office and put King David in his place, with this commendation: 'I've searched the land and found this David, son of Jesse. He's a man whose heart beats to my heart, a man who will do what I tell him.' 23 "From out of David's descendants God produced a Savior for Israel, Jesus, exactly as he promised - 24 but only after John had thoroughly alerted the people to his arrival by preparing them for a total life-change. 25 As John was finishing up his work, he said, 'Did you think I was the One? No, I'm not the One. But the One you've been waiting for all these years is just around the corner, about to appear. And I'm about to disappear.'

As today’s reading continues, we see that Joshua is also in need to send people out; he commissioned them to go and survey the land.

4 Pick three men from each tribe so I can commission them. They will survey and map the land, showing the inheritance due each tribe, and report back to me. 5 They will divide it into seven parts. Judah will stay in its territory in the south and the people of Joseph will keep to their place in the north. 6 "You are responsible for preparing a survey map showing seven portions. Then bring it to me so that I can cast lots for you here in the presence of our God. 7 "Only the Levites get no portion among you because the priesthood of God is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh already have their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan, given to them by Moses the servant of God." 8 So the men set out. As they went out to survey the land, Joshua charged them: "Go. Survey the land and map it. Then come back to me and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of God." 9 So off the men went. They covered the ground and mapped the country by towns in a scroll. Then they reported back to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh.

God has many places he could send us. He has many things to send us after. But where ever it is that we get sent, we need to remember the GREAT COMMISSION

Be blessed today, and I pray that you will stop and listen to what God wants you to do today and where he may want you to go (maybe just a few room down the hall at work).

Do you know Jesus? Has He entered into your life? Have you ever wondered about God? Who is He? What do I need to do to?

Here are a few great links to help you be able to draw closer to God and to get to know Him better. He is a life changer. Nothing is too big or too small for God to take care of for you and in you.

http://account.churchwebworks.com/acct/10197-8959/tmpl/tm215_about_god.php - From the website ECA Online

http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/freetools.aspx - From the website Purpose Driven Life