Nougat 28

Did you realize that we have a a mandate for evangelism? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

“From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Evangelism: Sharing the Word

He had scarcely ended His Forty-Day fast before Jesus was out preaching the message of Salvation. It probably wasn’t the hope-filled presentation of what we would expect in Jesus’ inaugural sermon. But it was apt. It was a call to repentance (that is, leaving one’s former lifestyle for God’s way) – which qualifies the repentant for citizenship in God’s Kingdom.

Matthew’s Gospel suggests that Jesus’ public ministry started with this sermon on repentance, even before He called the disciples. This, to some degree, makes it Jesus’s core message. Yes, Matthew presents us with Jesus as the fulfillment of messianic prophecies, and as preacher, expelling demons, healing the sick, and manifesting God’s might through miracles. But Jesus’ public ministry also ended with Him sending forth the disciples with the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:18-20); confirming that Matthew viewed evangelism as Jesus’ major priority. Thus all the parables, sermons, miracles, healing, and signs and wonders had one purpose: pointing the world to repentance and citizenship in God’s Kingdom.

It’s worth noting that Jesus wasn’t partial about the demographic that was/is called to repentance. In fact, Matthew suggests this is a global invitation in verse 15, with his reference to Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah. ‘… beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light (see Isaiah 9:1-2). Jesus preached to lay and ordained predominantly Jewish audiences, with the call to repentance. And Mathew’s prophetic insertion suggests that those whom the world refers to as Gentiles are also included in this call to repentance.

Siblings, amidst all we say and do on God’s behalf, this ought to be among the most urgent. The world is dying for want of knowledge that God’s Kingdom is here, and the time to repent is now. Too much is happening for us to neglect sharing this message. Unfortunately, we live in an era where this might not be readily accepted. Although it poses a challenge in ensuring that the message reaches all those in need of God’s grace and mercy, it doesn’t negate the urgency of our mandate. To share the call repentance as the means to citizenship in God’s Kingdom.

What are we waiting for? Time’s passing, let’s live our mandate.

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May all we seek be found in Christ