Verse of the Day Devotion:  Matthew 24:14  

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” – Matthew 24:14

Jesus, who when He came out of the temple, pointed out to the disciples the temple buildings and told them these would be totally destroyed to the point that not one stone shall be upon another.  Then when Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3b.

Jesus then refers to several issues in His answer, for instance false Christs, wars and rumors of war and nations rising against other nations.  He mentions famines and great tribulation against Christians.  He goes on to say, “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” Matthew 24:10-13.  In other words, many Christians will fall away from the faith, however, whoever fights through the deception and remains true to the faith, those will be saved and receive eternal life.  However, He ends this section with the following as found in our focus verse, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14. 

If there is any work that is absolutely necessary today and in the times to come, this is it.  The world needs to hear the truth of the gospel in a way that they can receive it.  And it must be preached in all four corners of the world.  Jesus said there will not be a place where it is not taught and defended.  In fact, this is commanded to the disciples.  Mark puts it this way.  “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15. Jesus told His disciples, aside from Judas who left, to go everywhere.  Matthew goes even farther in declaring what He said.  “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.  Jesus said the disciples were to make disciples in all nations.  And guess what.  We are His disciples and we became a disciple because of another Christian, who became a disciple because of another Christian, who also became a disciple because of another Christian.  And we can keep going back.  And what are we called to do, make disciples.

And one last thing.  We do not have to go to a foreign country to be a missionary.  We are called simply to make disciples.  If God calls us to go to Peru or Pakistan or any other county other than where we live, ­then we are to go.  However, if not then our mission field is where we are.  We must never think just because we are not going to a foreign county to share the gospel that our mission on earth is less valid.  There are people in every continent, country, city, town and neighborhood  that are lost and need to hear the gospel so they can be saved.  If we are not called to go somewhere else, then we are called to preach where we are.  We Christians are the church, and therefore we are the ones called to make disciples everywhere.  Note, the church is.  And since where we live is part of the world, then we are called to do His work either where we are or where He sends us.  So, I want to encourage everyone to go out to that place in the world you are and present the gospel through every means you can.  The lost need to be found, and the only we that is possible is if we tell them how to be saved and help them take this step.  And after this, help them to find a church body where they can grow in the faith and become another disciple who makes disciples for Christ.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.