BY REV. DORAL PULLEY | Today’s Church Tampa Bay
“What do you embrace in your life? What do you fully devote yourself to, completely giving and receiving in return?
I wholeheartedly embrace the principles, practices, and promises of the kingdom. The reason for not fulfilling the entirety of our aspirations lies in our lack of commitment towards them. We merely acknowledge our dreams and goals but must embrace them with our entire heart. This includes embracing the hardships, pain, disappointment, obscurity, and shortcomings, for it is through them that we learn and receive blessings.
By embracing the light and darkness, good and evil, we can acquire all God desires. Every experience, individual, and location has its own teachings and benefits. Hence, we must instill the mindset of Christ within us to be in harmony with the Almighty and the entirety of creation. I am one with all life. I am one with the one. I am one with God because there is only one.
Go
Read – Luke 14:15-24
Scripture: “And Jesus went to all the cities and villages in his region, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people (Matthew 9:35).”
Denial: “I’m not stuck. I’m not stagnant.”
Affirmation: “I AM moving in the direction of my good.”
Jesus, our Wayshower, was a man of movement and action who had a positive impact on people’s lives. He did not stay in one place. He traveled, primarily by foot, to various cities, towns, and villages, preaching, teaching, and performing miracles, signs, and wonders. Jesus trained and developed his disciples and commissioned them to “Go to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 10:6).” As current-day disciplined followers of Jesus, we have that same “go power” to share the good news with our target audiences.
As highlighted in today’s reading, Jesus, our example of what it means to be fully human and fully divine, also emphasized to his followers the necessity of going “into the hedges and highways” and compelling people to come through the Parable of the Great Supper. Throughout his ministry, Jesus, the Pattern Son, healed people who were stuck in sickness and self-pity through that powerful two-letter word, GO. He told the lepers, “Go show yourself to the priests, and they were healed as they went (Luke 17:11-19).” As we move in the direction of our good and are filled with thanksgiving, we, too, are made whole from any infirmity.
He told the woman who was caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more (John 8:1-11).” Instead of stoning her to death, Jesus empowered her to learn the lessons from her experience and to move forward with her life. In following Jesus, we, too, are freed from guilt, shame, and condemnation and empowered to share our testimonies of forgiveness and freedom with others. At the end of his ministry, Jesus, our elder brother, commanded his disciples to carry on the Great Commission by going, preaching, teaching, and baptizing all nations of people (Matthew 28:18-20).
We do not have to be intimidated by the words, preaching, and teaching. It simply means to share with others what God has shared with you. This can be done one-on-one, in small groups as well as in large crowds. This commission was also highlighted in Mark: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).” One interpretation of the text is “as you go” about your life. This means that as you are going about your daily routine, you are to preach the glad tidings to yourself, and you are to share your testimony with those who cross your path. There is no way for the ministry of Jesus Christ and his Kingdom message to continue unless we share it (Romans 10:14).
Reflection: How can you share your testimony with more people?
Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Today’s Church Tampa Bay, 2114 54th Ave. N, St. Petersburg and 5107 North Central Ave., Tampa.
