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That seems fairly obvious doesn't it? But so often this is how we live our lives. We live as if the outcome isn't important, and we wonder why it always seems like we're on the wrong road.
But what if we lived as if the destination was important? How would that change which "road" we take, the choices we make, the way we use our time, talents, and treasure? What if we knew our lives had a purpose, and we filtered everything through that purpose?
Jesus gave His disciples a purpose. He gave them instructions on which road to take.
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."There was an instruction: Go! But then there was a promise. The promise is alluded to at the beginning of the command, then given again at the end of the command. At the beginning He says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go..."
Jesus wasn't sending His disciples with nothing to take. He was giving them His authority. They wouldn't have to go on the road to their given destination alone. His authority would go with them.
Then He says, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Again, Jesus promises His presence with His authority. We aren't travelling down just any road. We are travelling down a road that leads to the destination Jesus has given us, and it is with His authority and presence that we travel the road.
No matter how dark, how narrow, how scary the road is, Jesus promises to accompany His disciples when He sends them. Write your response to these questions below:
- How would knowing our destination change the "road" we take (the choices we make)? How would keeping in mind what Jesus has for us change how we make decisions?
- What does it mean that Jesus gives His authority and presence to His disciples? How does that help or affect us?
1. Knowing our destination would change our choices because we would know what we are aiming for. An important part of reaching our destination (or what were aiming for) are checkpoints or goals. Every choice we make can bring us close to our goal which in turn brings us closer to our destination. Goals change our choices though because they're closer than the destination so you know what to choose. Better to have many goals than few. Jesus gives us life in heaven instead of hell. If that doesn't motivate our choices what does?
ReplyDelete2. Jesus giving us his authority means that they have the Holy Spirit and may be able to perform miracles. That affects us in two main ways. The first is that Christians respect Jesus so that means that Christians will respect the disciples. Second the means that we might be able to perform miracles. Miracles are an amazing was to draw a crowd and teach them about Jesus.
1. If we know our destination then we will then look at each "road" or decision that we have to take. We will interpret that decision and see which way it takes us. If it takes us to the destination we want then we will surely take it. If it doesn't take us that way then we will consider other "roads". If we remember what Jesus has in mind for us then we will look at the choices that we have to make in our life and see if the result will be something Jesus would want for us.
ReplyDelete2. When Jesus says that he gives us his authority and presence means that he gave them his authority for what they were about to go out and do, which it wasn't bad things they were going to do. They went out and did good things in the name of the Lord. This will help us know that God is witth us when we are out there helping others and that He is with us through everything that happens.
1.Knowing our destination would help me decide which road to take because I would know what to look for. If I knew exactly what God had planned for my life then I would know exactly which college classes to take, but it doesn't work like that. Keeping in mind what Jesus has for me would change my decisions because I would base everything in my life around that. I wouldn't stop for anything or anybody to get where God wants me to be. There is no doubt in my mind that I would do my best to give my life wholeheartedly to the task God has placed in front of me.
ReplyDelete2. When the Bible says Jesus gives His authority and His presence to the disciples, I think that means he is always with them. He will never leave their side. He gives guidance to them and paves a path for them to follow. This affects me becuase I know God is always with me and I don't have to worry.
1. Knowing our destination would change the "road" that we take because we would have a goal to reach and we would know how our decisions would change that path. Keeping the idea of Jesus with us would change that because we would begin to start thinking what's best for him and not ourselves. We'd simply do it for the name of Jesus.
ReplyDelete2. I think it means that Jesus is putting his trust in them that they will do good in his name. I think that this could relate to us because He has put his trust in us to do good things through Him.
1. Knowing our destination will make us more confident and deliberate as we move forward, instead if being content with just "floating" through life. Keeping Jesus in mind will help us to make better and wiser decisions because we will be thinking what He would do or say, or what He would want us to do or say.
ReplyDeleteOops I forgot number 2
ReplyDelete2. Having Jesus's authority will make us more conscious of our actions because others know that we are representing Jesus, and they will base their opinion of Jesus based on us. Having the authority of Jesus's should make us confident because we know that He is always with us.
1) If we could always know what our destination was going to be we would be able to be much more confident with everything we decide to do as we know that it will get us to that place. Keeping the thought of Jesus in mind as we make decisions would convince many people to do better or more Godlike actions, as Jesus has promised us eternal life and I can't think of many people who would not want that.
ReplyDelete2) Jesus giving the authority to his disciples means that they can keep spreading the word of Christ and baptizing people. This affects us today as we can still go to Church and read the bible and get baptized.
(1) We so often come to forks in the road or crossroads.Since we have a destination that Jesus has pointed out to us, sometimes it's very clear which way we need to go. But, there are other moments when we're just not sure which fork to take and end up on the wrong road. As long as we're praying and listening to the H.S. and comparing what's along the road to Jesus's description of the kingdom, we'll quickly realize that we are on the wrong road and we can u-turn and run back to the correct path!
ReplyDelete(2) It means we do not have to go in our own strength or abilities. That removes our doubts, our fears, our pride and vanity, our insecurities, etc. We proceed with His support and strength, with the "Helper" that He promised, and with the assurance that we are His servants and we will accomplish His tasks. As Paul said, "If God be for us,who can be against us?" Rom. 8:31
1) Well if we knew our destination that God had planned for us then we might do things a lot differently than we are right now weather good or bad. Keeping in mind what Jesus has for us would make me personally chose to make way better decisions I already try to make good decisions, but everyone messes up once in a while.
ReplyDelete2) That means that he tells us what to do or what we are supposed to do like what the right thing to do is, but he doesn't force us to do it he makes us make the decision on our our. He is always there to help you though if you pray to him he will answer and help.
1. Knowing where we are going could change the paths we take in many ways. One way it changes is that it gives us reason to choose which way we are going. For instance if a man is chasing you, you are going to take the fastest path to get away from him, but if you see something at the end of one path that you really want you are going to go for it. Another way it changes is that it helps us to care which way we go. Keeping in mind what Jesus has for us could help us because it will give us a reason to go down whichever path we do choose.
ReplyDelete2. Jesus's authority represents his presence because when he is around we can do anything and everything we set our mind too. This helps us because it lets us know that through everything he is there and he will help us get through the good, the bad, and the eh times.
1. Knowing our destination can change our decisions in many ways. One way is that you know even if you feel like you're the only one taking that path you'll have one person, the most important person, with you. Another way is that even if people are pressuring you to do something you will know that if you don't there is a better outcome.
ReplyDelete2. Having Jesus's authority means that he will be with us all the time and helping us make decisions. This helps us because it lets us know we aren't alone.