🗣️ Matthew 28:19-20 | An Ancient Promise For the Whole World

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📧 In today’s email…

• 👑 An ancient promise fulfilled

• 🔗 One at a time

• 🔦 Community spotlight!

 🧠 Memorize

_{see if you know what words go in the blanks}

Go therefore ___ ____ _________ __ ___ _______, _________ ____ __ ___ ____ __ the Father ___ __ ___ ___ ___ __ ___ ____ ______,

teaching them __ observe ___ ____ _ have _________ ___. And behold, I am with ___ always, to the end of ___ ___.

Matthew 28:19-20

Back to Abraham 📖 

Our verse this week is found in Matthew (the first book of the New Testament).

To really understand it, though, we have to go all the way back to Genesis (the first book of the Old Testament).

Why Genesis? Because we meet a man named Abram (later called Abraham).

This man is the forefather of the nation of Israel.

With Abram, God formed a relationship with a particular people group - the offspring of Abraham which we call Israel.

Here’s what God promises Abram when he tells him to travel to a new land:

When God created humans in the Garden, we were to be His representatives to all of Creation. To bear His image and re-present Him to the world.

Similarly, Israel’s whole purpose was to be a nation that uniquely re-presented God to the rest of the human population.

God’s plan was to turn Israel, the descendants of Abram, into a beacon for the whole world.

They weren’t going to be like any other empire or country —

— they were to be a “Kingdom of priests,” showing the world the ways of God.

In the book of Isaiah, God reiterates this call and purpose of Israel:

That’s what Israel was supposed to be.

That was their mission.

But by time we get to the New Testament… did they do that?

Did they bless all people and be a light for the Gentiles?

🌎 For Everyone, Everywhere 🌍

Israel, even at its height, didn’t accomplish its task of being a blessing for the whole world. They lacked faithfulness to their end of the covenant with God.

By the time Jesus is born, Israel had been under the control of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.

The “light” they were supposed to be to other nations was dim and fading.

But after hundreds of years, Jesus bursts into the scene and fulfills God’s promises to Abram.

Through Jesus, God did not just redeem Israel.

He redeemed all of humanity, overcoming the power of sin and inaugurating his Kingdom.

A Kingdom not based on class, intelligence, or ethnic background.

But a Kingdom that is for everyone, everywhere.

So when Jesus calls his followers to go and make disciples of ALL nations, he invites them (and now us) to participate in the promise from Genesis 12.

What an honor! 🙏

Reflect 🤔 

The world is big. There are billions of people who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps it feels daunting.

But today, just focus on one person.

Think of a single person you know who needs the Gospel — and take one or a few of these next steps:

• ✍️ Decide: Write down their name

• 🙏 Pray: Ask God to reveal how He is already working in that person’s life, and how you can best participate.

• 🤝 Connect: Build a real relationship with them

• 🗣️ Share: Share your testimony (from yesterday) so they can see how God has changed your life.

May the population in God’s Kingdom grow, one person at a time.

Who is your one?

👀 Note: Tomorrow, we’ll share more specific, practical ways you can live out the Great Commission.

Community spotlight 🔦 

Feedback ❤️ 

Love it so much! Keep going deeper. I pray for you all, thank you for what you’re doing.

- Olivia R.

I’ve only been one of your readers for about one month I wake up and anxiously look forward to opening my phone and having fellowship with you 🙏 

- Eleanor B.

Shout-outs 📣

• HUGE thank you to Pat H, S. Frasier, and Angela for choosing to pay-it-forward so we can help more people memorize and learn about God’s Word!

p.s. Many of you have requested the option for a one-time payment to support our work rather than a recurring subscription.

You now have that option here!

Thank you so much to everyone paying-it-forward to help us keep operating! 🙏

Answer key ✅ 

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,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:19-20