October 10, 2016

Matthew 28:19 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,

On a week when the country was focused on the destructive qualities of water from hurricane Matthew, I attended a baptism. I had a family connection with the one being baptized and a history with the congregation so it was a joyful affair. The contrast between the destructive qualities of the water in the hurricane and assertion of the faithfulness of God in the waters of baptism can be difficult to reconcile. Just as hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc on diverse nations and social classes so the above verse says God calls all the nations to partake in the blessing of being a disciple of Jesus. In the negative and the positive we are challenged to look beyond ourselves and our close family, friends and associates, to go with compassion and sharing and the promise of God indiscriminately as God provides a path. This week, how might you go to all the nations?