Timeless Truths. A Missionary . . . Me?

 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Then Jesus came to them and said,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20

Most of my missionary experiences have come from participating in missionary society activities, not being on a mission field. 

Whether part of a goofy missions skit, reading a book about missionaries or listening to a “real missionary” speak, the experiences all revolve around one main theme:

OBEDIENCE.

• Sometimes the missionary speaker was captivating. Sometimes the speaker was not very stimulating. In fact, some were downright boring. 
• None of them ever failed to impress me with the obedience they exhibited on a day-to-day basis. 
• Nearly every one emphasized that obedience was what God was searching for.

God isn’t “looking for more missionaries.”

Not that there aren’t some folks whom I’m sure He’d love to answer His call to full-time service on some exotic field.

God is looking for followers who want to do their best for Him, wherever that takes them in serving.

Helping with a work day at your own church, or church plant, or an inner-city church qualifies as obedient service.

• Teaching a Sunday school class,
• Singing in the choir,
• Calling on someone you know is sick or just needs some support,
• Cutting labels off your  soup cans and cereal boxes to turn in for a struggling ministry that needs equipment,
• Volunteering to help with a food delivery ministry,

All these qualify as obedient service.

God calls missionaries to distant lands and to places much closer to home.

But God wants each of us to be as committed as we can be, serving where we are.

You might never have a story to tell about crocodiles chasing your inflatable boat, or angels protecting you from marauding indigenous warriors, or being pulled from a whirlpool and knowing it was the prayers of folks back home that made the difference, or . . .

But we can all have stories of how we were blessed by serving someone while we were doing something we knew God wanted us to do.

Matthew 28:19 is Christ’s command to all his disciples—not just the original twelve.

• As present day disciples, we are all part of God’s ministry team.
• “All nations” includes the one you live in.
• Teaching obedience to God’s Word is something each of us should be doing.

Next time you hear about an opportunity to serve, promise yourself to ask God if that should be your mission field.

Novel concept: You might even want to investigate if any ministry areas are lacking support BEFORE you hear about an opportunity!

Prayerfully consider if that opportunity is how God would like

you to serve Him.

You might hear an audible voice calling you to that service,

but I wouldn’t expect that.

You might have a feeling that you probably couldn’t do that particular task,

but that doesn’t mean you AND God can’t do it.

I’ve never heard ANY missionary say they were capable of doing all the things they’ve done during their service on the field (and I’ve heard a LOT of missionaries).

EVERY missionary I’ve ever heard has said,

when they did what they felt they should do, God was with them every step of the way.

There’s no better partner in any ministry!

Next Timeless Truths: Does Your Cover Match Your Content?

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