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Read: Matthew 28:19-20
Listen: Matthew 28

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. Matthew 28:19 

These are some of the final words Jesus tells his disciples. Go. Make disciples of all nations. They understand what it means to be a disciple. They have been practicing it for the last three years. And they certainly know what it means to go, because they’ve traveled with Jesus throughout Judea. But all nations? The closest these country boys have ventured outside Israel is Samaria, and even then, Samaritans are more like distant relatives. This means navigating the cross-cultural tension of telling people about the love of Jesus and also their need for repentance and rescue. It requires nuance and wisdom.

As followers of Jesus, we too are invited to live in the tension. Human beings are simultaneously the crown of God’s creation—his image bearers—and yet, we too are the cause of sin. No place is this tension more visible than when we step into the vulnerable places of our world. We are challenged to see everyone with value and worth and to care for the vulnerable. Yet, we also see that government has a role to protect and restrain evil. As people living in this specific time and place, we can love our country, but we must remember that our eternal zip code belongs to the kingdom of heaven. When the world comes to our doorstep and we interact with our immigrant neighbors, we have an incredible opportunity to share Jesus through our actions and words.

TODAY: Where is God inviting you to share the gospel? Pray for opportunities and open doors to share him with others.