Our Marching Orders Are Simple — King Jesus Says, “Go!” Matthew 28

The command is direct, authoritative, and unmistakable. After completing His earthly ministry—after His death, burial, and resurrection—and just moments before His ascension, Jesus made an emphatic declaration: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” And with that authority, like a commanding general on the battlefield, He issued the order:

“Go into all the world and make disciples… teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”

He had conquered death. He had triumphed over the powers of evil. And yet, while that victory is decisive, the final and full expression of it will not be realized until He returns.

So here we are—living between victory won and victory fully revealed.

We still see evil. We still experience its effects. But we do not fight from fear; we fight from security. Scripture reminds us that “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” and that “neither death nor life, angels nor rulers, nor powers… nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37–39).

Amen to that.

Evil has been defeated, yet its presence remains in our daily walk. And that is precisely why the command was given. Until the day Christ returns and brings final judgment upon all that is evil, we have been recruited into His army. We have been entrusted with His commission.

But hear this clearly: we do not fight in our own strength.

We fight empowered by the Holy Spirit. And He does not send us out unequipped.

We are issued full battle armor because the war we are engaged in is spiritual in nature. As Paul describes in Ephesians 6, each piece of armor is designed for protection—truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation. Yet there is only one offensive weapon: the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

When I reflect on that, I picture the day we will stand before Him after the battle is done. It will be time to return the armor issued to us. May it bear the marks of battle—dings, scrapes, even gashes that testify to faithful engagement.

And may we hand Him a sword whose blade is worn down to a nub—used faithfully, consistently, relentlessly.

Not for medals of honor. Not for bronze stars.

But to hear the only commendation that ultimately matters:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

You might be asking:

Why fight? Because we are commanded to.

What are we fighting for? For those who have not yet placed their trust in Christ—for the salvation of souls.

If God is all-powerful, why does He need us? He doesn’t. But in His sovereign design, He has chosen to include us. He ordains not only the ends but also the means. Romans 10:14–15 reminds us that people cannot believe unless they hear—and they cannot hear unless someone is sent. And in 2 Corinthians 5:20, we are called ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us.

These are our marching orders.

King Jesus says, “Go.”

And by His authority, in His power, and for His glory—we go.

Thank you for your generous donations. Because of your faithful giving, ROD continues to walk alongside men as they accomplish goals many once believed were out of reach — including earning their driver’s licenses.

Transportation is one of the greatest barriers to stability after incarceration. Before receiving his license, Damian depended on others for rides to job interviews, classes, and work. Every opportunity required coordination. Every step forward relied on someone else’s availability.

After working hard, passing his exams, and saving his own money, Damian is now driving his own car.

That is more than transportation.

It is discipline. It is a responsibility.

It is financial stewardship. It is independence earned.

In reentry, a driver’s license and a vehicle represent consistency, accountability, and the ability to maintain employment. They represent a man investing in his own future.

Because you give, progress like this becomes possible.

Thank you for partnering with ROD to create real, lasting change, one milestone at a time.

Because of your faithful giving, we get to celebrate real, tangible milestones. Raymond Schmidt took his driver’s tests, and he passed both the written and the driving exam. He is now officially a licensed driver again in the great State of Texas.

That may sound simple to some, but in reentry, this is huge. A valid driver’s license means access to better job opportunities. It means reliability. It means independence. It means dignity restored.

It represents studying, showing up, paying fees, taking responsibility, and choosing to move forward.

Your support makes moments like this possible. You are not just funding programs. You are helping men regain stability, confidence, and practical tools they need to rebuild their lives. Thank you for being part of stories like Brother Ray’s. This is what progress looks like.