I hope the challenge I issued last
week is starting embed itself into your life if it wasn't already. I know that stepping out of our comfort zone
and sharing the Gospel to people is tough, but All things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26).
This particular lesson of Multiply was
a bit more challenging for me to muster up some sort of personal experience or
illustration to help tie it all together.
The Global Church is the title of this chapter. The Global Church = missions!
It's true that we're surrounded by a
ripe mission field in Minot and our surrounding communities, but the global
church, I believe, is more focused on Acts 1:8:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Working in the mission fields of
Kenya, Thailand, China, Guatemala or any other field in this world isn't for
everyone. Now, please don't mistake my
statement of "isn't for everyone" with "isn't called
to go." I believe we are all
called to go and preach the Gospel to the world, but there may be certain
circumstances that prevent us from doing so.
I get it. God has given each of
us specific gifts to utilize in order to further His Kingdom. If God wants you to go on a mission trip to
"the ends of the earth," you'll know.
God is persistent when He's calling us to do something. There are many ways you can reach the world
with the message of love and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, even if you
don't physically go. You can certainly
pray for the missionaries. You can also
give your time, talents, and/or your finances to help the missionaries. There is always an opportunity and need
for, in military terms, "support personnel" for the
missionaries...all you have to do is ask what they need and give it if you can.
I love what 1 Chronicles 16:24 says
about missions:
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Do you see what is said here? Declare
His glory among the nations. The
author of 1 Chronicles (attributed to Ezra), spells out pretty clearly what we
are to do as Christ followers. We are
to: go and proclaim. So, I know what
you're probably thinking...probably what many mission workers first thought
when they received the nudging of the Lord to go on a mission trip: Why
me? and How? Those are two valid questions. Of course, I would say the answer to both of
those questions is one word: JESUS! If
you are called to the mission field, Jesus will provide both the why and how
answers.
Let's check out Romans 10:13 and see
what Paul tells us:
For
everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
BOOM!
That's the answer we're looking for, friends. People will be saved when they call on the
name of the Lord. How, though, will they
learn of who the Messiah is without Christ followers going and sharing the
Gospel? There are some places in this
world that literally have never heard of Jesus or how He can change their
lives. We have a responsibility to the
world as Christ followers to teach them so they, too, can receive salvation
offered only through faith in Jesus Christ.
If no one goes...who will proclaim?
Do you get it? Someone has to do
it, whether it's you, me, or someone else; otherwise, the lost won't be
saved. It's an awesome (read: big)
responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly.
Are you ready to go?
As I was preparing and studying for
this post, I jumped on Right Now Training and watched a training session called
"Plan B" by Todd Phillips.
Todd used a pretty awesome illustration as he discussed the mission
field. He said the most important piece
of a puzzle isn't a corner piece, the last piece, or an edge piece. Instead, the most important piece of a puzzle
is the picture of the completed puzzle on the box top. You see, if we aren't focusing on the big
picture, we can, and often times do, get lost in the small details that are
really good at derailing us. Each piece
of the puzzle is a nation that needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
whether it's at home, another state, or overseas. The box top is the world with Jesus. We must keep our eyes focused on His plan for
the world.
Be in prayer about how God will use
you to reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ--the
ultimate goal.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jeremy Meier