“‘你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，… 给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守。’ - 太 28:19

在2019年新冠状病毒肺炎成为大流行病之前，我从来没有预料到我会在互联网上现场讲道，我会认为那是我最大的恶梦。然而，神却为像我这样在家乡讲道的传道人开路，让我们能够向世界各地因致命的病毒被困在家里的人分享耶稣的好消息。

可是，过了不少时日，疫情仍拖延未散，上网观看的人也逐渐减少。调查报告显示，大部份认识基督的人，都是透过与人有个人化接触的成果，因为这些人始终如一的信心和行为吸引了他们。

在升天之前，耶稣吩咐衪的门徒（和我们）去传扬关于衪的故事 － 衪为我们从罪中得释放铺路、使我们靠着神的恩典永远过着丰盛的生命。这个消息是何等美妙，我们实在不能不与别人分享。

我信奉回教的妹夫、我信奉佛教的指甲修饰师、我属新时代派的肿瘤科医生、我那些因“福音派基督徒”的表现而回避信仰的朋友，他们都在观察我并在听我所说的话，而你的邻舍也在观察着你，也在听你所说的话。活在我们里面的耶稣，是一个他们希望认识的人吗？耶稣能使用我们以爱的样式来欢迎他们进入羊栏吗？

当我们在我们的社区活动、购物、理发、观看体育节目、和到教会时，让我们都随时向人讲述耶稣的救赎恩典吧！

（BMB）

祷告

耶稣啊，我们不觉得我们配去代表你，然而你的灵却赐我们力量去做这项艰巨的任务。求你帮助我们，让我们的生活方式能够吸引人在你里面找到新生命。阿们。

马太福音 28:18-20

18耶稣进前来，对他们说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。
19所以你们要去，使万民做我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗，
20凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守。我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。”

Enfolding Our Neighbors

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them . . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” - Matthew 28:19

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I never would have predicted that I would be preaching live on the internet. I would have thought that would be my worst nightmare. But God opened the way for hometown preachers like me to share the good news of Jesus to a world hunkered down by a deadly virus.

But as the months dragged on, viewers dwindled. Surveys show that most people come to know Christ through personal interaction with others whose faith and actions are appealing and consistent.

Before returning to heaven, Jesus instructed his disciples (and us) to spread the story about him—how he paved the way for us to be set free from sin and to live fully and forever by God’s grace. This news is too good not to share.

My brother-in-law who is Muslim, my manicurist who is Buddhist, my oncologist who is New Age, and my friends who are turned off by “evangelical Christians” are all watching and listening to me. Your neighbors are watching and listening to you. Is the Jesus living in us someone they want to know? Can Jesus use us to love them into the fold?

As we walk our neighborhoods, go shopping, get haircuts, attend sporting events, and go to church, let us speak freely about Jesus’ saving grace.

(BMB)

Prayer

We don’t feel worthy to represent you, Jesus, but your Spirit empowers us for this awesome task. Help us to live in a way that draws others to find life in you. Amen.