All in Christian
The hardest question that any missionary faces isn’t “can I go out and do this?”, but rather “is Jesus able to do this?” It all boils down to faith, and it begins with the faith of the missionaries themselves. Going out and reciting scripture can be done by anyone, but believing belongs to the disciple, and what is a missionary if not a disciple?
Do we identify ourselves as missionaries? Is that what we do as a vocation, or is it a part of our everyday routine as we go here and there in life, and mix with all those we come into contact with each day? Being a missionary is not just an amazing calling for the few but should be the goal of every Christian. Spreading the gospel to one or one hundred thousand makes no difference in what we are asked to do, nor in what we are called to do. Whether we refer to ourselves as evangelists, missionaries, or simply Christians... spreading the gospel is what we are meant to do.
Have we found Jesus, and are we attempting to reach out and bring others to Him? Well, before we do, we should be certain that we really know who He is ourselves. If we think we have sought and found Him, I wonder if we really have, because scripture seems to say that we don’t find Him through searching... God draws, or calls, us to Him. Is this an enigma; a great mystery? Let’s read two passages and then I will reveal a truth to you...
Do we lay awake at night and determine the strategy we will employ tomorrow? Do we make battle plans against the forces of darkness, or arrange our spiritual maneuvers to achieve victory and holiness? If so, then woe are we, because the seas we sail, and the battles we fight, are not ours. We are just sailors aboard the vessel of God, and we are but soldiers in the army of the King. We sail for him and do battle at His command. When we triumph over the enemy the victory belongs to Jesus Christ alone... we are simply following His leadership
What is our mission? What has God asked us to do? Is it to feed the bodies of hungry people, or to feed their souls? Is it to cloth the naked with soft wool, or to cloth them in the white robes of salvation? Is it to quench the thirst of parched mouths, or to give them living water to satisfy the spirit? Jesus sent His disciples into the world to deliver the gospel, and today He sends us too. Although we mercifully feed, clothe, and quinch the thirst of the needy, our primary mission is to minister to lost souls… to deliver the gospel message!
When God calls or speaks to us we, more often than not, hear the message and then receive a confirmation. Sometimes we aren’t quick in listening or answering and God repeats himself, but when we finally say “Here I am” to the Lord, we still get confirmation. Does God sign the letters He sends you? Have you ever been a pen in His hand and used to write His signature on someone else’s note?
We all have touchstones in our lives by which we measure ourselves and the quality of our lives; those people, places, and events that we consider as representative of our ideal. Is Jesus the touchstone of all touchstones in our life? Do we measure all else, even our other touchstones based on Him?
Are we quietly preparing ourselves for those things that the Lord will have us do for His kingdom? How about for the return of His Son Jesus? Do we find that we are so busy doing day-to-day worldly tasks that we forget to plan and prepare ourselves for the Lord’s ultimate return? If we look at our daily lives do we find that we are treating this world as if it were the next… as if it is our ultimate destination? Sometimes we forget that this is only a shipyard in which we are being fitted, faired, and prepared to sail and not the open sea that we are meant to hoist sail upon once we are completed in Christ.
How intimate are we with God and Jesus Christ? Is our relationship close enough, and deep enough, that we don’t keep secrets, and that we can do the grossest of natural things in front of Them without embarrassment? Can we sit under a tree for hours and confess our wildest dreams or confide our darkest thoughts in Them? I encourage each of us to not limit ourselves to a polite handshake with Jesus or a formal relationship with God ... we should become more than casual acquaintances in our faith and belief in Them.
What are the works and miracles we do in the name of Jesus? Are they greater than those He was able to do, or by lacking are we a disappointment to ourselves, and God? To get to the root of this particular scripture we must explore our belief, understanding, and ability to pray effectively. And we must also look deeper into the wording of this passage of scripture… does it imply we will be more able than Christ was, or simply that we will carry on those things He was doing in His life to a new height?
Are we praying for God to call us to some great task for the advancement of His kingdom? Do we have a desire to do wonderful things for our Holy Father? Well let’s stop trying to determine how He can best use us and pray instead that God will simply give us the strength to labor in His field in whatever way he desires... and to do so in a way that will win souls and honor Him.
When we first speak to someone about Jesus Christ what do we say? Do we talk to them about how He heals the sick, or casts out demons? No, I dare say that we talk to them first and foremost about how Jesus died to redeem the sins of the world and how He is the hope of salvation that has been provided to each of us. We speak of the good news, the gospel of Christ.
Do we approach others with the gospel of Jesus Christ because we feel they are in need of hearing it, or because Jesus told us to go? Do we spread the word of The Lord because we wish to find a closer walk with Him in the process, or because we are being obedient? These are subtle differences that make a difference.
Are you in a situation that calls for more prayer than you can muster? Do you need the prayers of many, or at least a couple of righteous believers to intercede for you? Is your heart broken, your health waning, or your spirit down? Well maybe it is time to call out for the help of the saints in your church or seek the prayers of someone you trust.
Do we stroll with God, or yearn to dance with Him? How close is our relationship, and how desperately do we seek to remain in His presence? In our desire for salvation and eternal life do we place our physical wants above simply loving Him as our internal nature dictates? If so, do we realize that there may never be a quiet stroll through the garden, a conversation spent speaking without having to utter a word, or hearing Him sing to us? God knows our hearts, but He wants more than this… He wants us to engage with Him as He has created us, to be in an active relationship with Him, and to love Him as our given nature is meant to.