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Today’s Reading: Matthew 28
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Garden Tomb is a rock-cut tomb which was unearthed in 1867 and has subsequently been considered by many Christians to be a possible site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. Could this be the place where the stone of which today’s reading speaks, “Was rolled back from the door, and (the angel) sat on it”? The groove in which a stone could be rolled is still there, but the stone is no longer there, as it was likely used in construction elsewhere. The angel said, “He is not here; for He is risen as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay!”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
Today is the first day of a four-day series in which we will consider the final chapter and the final verse of each of the four Gospels. On June 3rd, God willing, we will start our two-year journey through the entire Bible once again. Please keep on keeping on!!! “Consistency, thou art a rare jewel” is a statement often attributed to William Shakespeare. Wherever it came from doesn’t matter. What does matter is that it is true! We can be sure that the latest “Man of the century,” Winston Churchill, said, “Never, never, never give up!!!”
Matthew begins with, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Messiah), the Son of David, the Son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1), and he ends with our key verses, which is clear that the Person to which Matthew introduces us is also One with “The Father” and “The Holy Spirit.” He is the Eternal Son of God!!! And this is where we come into the picture! Our job is to “Go (‘you’ is understood) and make disciples (Hebrew talmudim – school children in Israel today are called ‘Talmudim’) of all the nations.” We who believe and take our commitment to Jesus with utmost sincerity have no other choice. We MUST do this, “baptizing them,” “teaching them” as Jesus in His final Words said, “TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU!” Matthew recorded the commands of Jesus. Therefore, as we start our daily readings in Matthew on June 3rd, we’ll find out in a fresh way what those commands were, so we can daily bring ourselves under the rule of the Ruler of the cosmos. Does that seem important to us? Yes! Yes! and Yes!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I am absolutely committed to carrying out Your direct orders. You are my Sovereign Lord. I place myself completely under Your command. I pray for the courage and willingness to sacrifice my life for Your cause. You have stated, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age!” You, my King, are right here with me! There is, therefore, “NO FEAR!” May I make disciples directly, and indirectly may I support those who are doing this in places and in ways where I cannot be. I obey your command to “GO!” Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My Father obeyed Jesus’ command to “Go!” He travelled to Egypt from Canada in 1922. My mother joined him in 1924, and they were married there. Together they obeyed Jesus’ command, and while mother taught music and preached the Gospel to women’s groups, father preached evangelistic missions and baptized many “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” I arrived in 1936 here in Canada. Because of the events leading up to World War II and during the war, Dad had to remain in Egypt and was separated from his family, with no possibility of being reunited with us, until December of 1944. The command to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” is in my DNA. I must serve my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ! My mother died in 1949, Dad returned to Egypt and my older sisters and I remained here for our education. It was in 1952, as a 16-year-old, that I carried my father in my arms out of an airplane at the Ottawa airport. He was not the big and strong man I had known. He had poured out his life in obedience to those final Words of Matthew’s Gospel. God restored his health. He served as a Pastor, a college president, and as a strong supporter of world missions until 1972, when God called him higher. It was probably around 1970 when he said to me, after watching me and my guests witness for Jesus on a Toronto TV station, “David, it seems that your call from God is to reach the whole world with the message of Jesus!” I wept and asked him to pray over me, which he did!
Yours with assurance that there are thousands of us who will do the same!!!
David
P.S. I want to thank Jim and Kathy Cantelon for allowing me to place here their commentaries on the book of Revelation. I’m attaching the last interview that Jim did with me for the 100 Huntley Street daily TV show. It was on air in the Spring of 2012, leading up to our 50th anniversary on television. I did not look too healthy in that interview. I believe that God has healed me (click here for part one of the Jim Cantelon interview, and here for part two). My condition was diagnosed in March of 2012 as MDS acute Leukaemia, and I was given two years to live. My wonderful oncologist, who discontinued chemo because positive results were not evident, said in January 2014, “Jaw dropping remarkable” and gave me permission to quote him. Anyway, here we are May 30th, 2016, and the Lord still has me here for some reason…one reason being that I will begin a daily two-minute video version of my 100words.ca blog (called a “vlog”). It will be aired on 100 Huntley Street and YES TV, as well as posted online. I’ll tell you more about that in coming days. As long as God gives me health and strength, I have no plans to just sit around and twiddle my thumbs!
I love the photo of the garden tomb where Jesus rose. Thank you for following your calling, dear David. Thank you, Jesus, for saving us! Yes, we obey YOU, our sovereign Lord. Amen! Blessings fellow saints!
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15:13, NIV
Since Jesus Came Into My Heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoCC1NjIHPE
This link keeps running; such beautiful songs by the Gaither Group.
Thanks Beverlee…always enjoy the Gaithers.
God Bless you David!! Thank you for being obedient to God’s calling. I am so grateful for your daily blog and look forward to it every day.
Gladys
Amen. Praying also for Living Truth, with Charles & Hilary Price, who are also ‘going’ throughout the Middle East to make disciples. They also are using the media to broadcast the Good News of Jesus Christ. God is calling many to come. We need to pray especially throughout Ramadan, which starts June 6. Please, Lord, send out workers, bless each one, & may each one be a blessing. In Jesus’ name, amen
Praying with you that Jesus will go before them, come behind them and be present with them on their commission throughout the Middle East. Prepare them wholly–holy. Till the minds, bodies and souls, of the lost Lord. That there may be a great harvest in the Middle East! In Jesus name. Amen.
I love it when artists are gifted to put God’s word to music.
Here is “Surely I am with you” by Julie Hall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4vfysNKGjE
Thank you Anne for that song!!!
Amen, Rob. I love Charles Price. Yes, praying for them.
That is wonderful news about the vlog– I have missed the daily study of Scripture on Huntley St. Although the various guests have quoted Scripture when giving their lessons on various topics that affect a believer, it has not been the same as the Bible studies the show had in the past. I look forward to the this new feature and the new choice of following 100 words by vlog as well as by blog. May God bless this new venture— Amen
Amen, Donna. Yes, very much looking forward to your upcoming 2 minute vlogs, dear David!
Yes I agree and am looking forward to it as well. Amen !
Thank you so much Pastor David for helping me journey through the Bible in 2 years. I can’t believe it’s already done!! I really appreciate all the effort that you all put into it, the pictures were amazing, as well as the commentary and prayers. God bless you as you journey on. Thanks be to God for everything He is doing through you.
Love Veronica
I agree. Thank-you, Thank-you!
The photo is wonderful God bless you David Ann , Ron ,Renold and all your families
who follow his calling. I really appreciate it.
Thank you David for your heartfelt love of the Lord and all your teachings.
Thank you for the picture of the Garden Tomb – a reminder for me that I was there with you and Norma Jean, I believe in 2008. I keep a picture of it in a place where I can see it every day. Taking Communion there was so meaningful. Thank you again for all you do for our Lord Jesus.
David you challenge me. What an inspiring blog this morning which touches my heart deeply! Thank God for your parents’ obedience and your obedience to Matthew 28:19-20 which inspires us all to obey.
Amen Ger!
David, I am so excited to hear that you will be on 100 Huntley Street again, what a blessing! I look forward to seeing the segments.
B.J. Davidson
from near Sauble Beach
I cannot access the interview with Jim Cantelon. Can someone direct me?
No, the hyperlink is not bringing us to the interviews with Jim Cantelon. Nevertheless, we are all thankful for David’s healing. Have no fear David. We are all going to continue to follow your 100 Words blog and your new 2 minute vlog. May God use you greatly in this new endeavour.
neither can I access the interview with Jim Cantelon.
Belated birthday wishes go out to your son Ron on his birthday yesterday. What a blessing both he and Ann have been to you..
Looking forward to the next two years of following this blog, God willing.
May God continue to bless you with good health so that you may follow the Lord’s leading. Thanks foe encouraging us that we all have a job to do, to make disciples.
Blessings be upon you and all fellow blog followers.
Thank you, David. Wonderful to know you are starting the blog again. It is always part of my daily quiet time. I thank our Heavenly Father for giving you improved health and strength. You have mentored me in my Christian walk through 100 Huntley Street for many, many years. Thank you to Norma -Jean, Ron, Ann, Reynold for their help with the blog.
Thank you for the picture of the Garden Tomb, reminds of the time I was there with the Journey of Hope and taking communion together.
Always appreciate your comments, particularly of your life and your family. Thank you.
Awaiting further information re “vlog”!
May God bless and give you strength
I am so filled with anticipation and excitement for the upcoming 2 years …my third time around. Also for the Vlog segments to come. Praise God for your obedience Pastor David in continuing to feed us our daily manna. Thanks to everyone who brings it all together and for the wonderful pictures Reynold posts. I pray for your continued good health Pastor David.
We are all blessed immensely by 100words.ca.
Blessings and prayers for all.