I Will Follow – Part 3 of 3

Jesus was a radical young man. He had a lot to say in the little time He was doing ministry. And a lot of it we use now to comfort ourselves. We say things like, “Wow! God is so loving! He sent His son to die for us! Jesus loved everyone! All who are weary and burdened can go to Him and recieve rest. Praise God!” Well, yes, you’re right. God is so very loving and the Bible makes many claims as to just how loving our Lord truly is. But know that we are now stepping on some dangerous ground. Do you beleive that ALL scripture is God-breathed and insprired by Him? [2 Timothy 3:16-17] Do you beleive that we must follow everything this sacred and Holy book says? Or have we turned Christianity into some sort of buffet table where we can pick and choose what we want to follow? If we all just stopped and really read what the Bible commands from all of us who claim to beleive and follow Christ, we just might discover that God demands deeper worship and awe than we are ready to give Him.

We are usually referring to foreign missions into an optional program in the church for a faithful few who apparently are called to do that. In this mindset, missions is a compartmentalized program of the church, and select folks are good at missions and passionate about missions. But where in the Bible is missions ever identified as an optional program in the church? Indeed, Jesus Himself has not merely called us to go to all nations; He has created us and COMMANDED us to go to all nations. We have taken this command though, and reduced it to a calling – something that only a few people recieve. [Radical – Platt]

I recently took another Spiritual Gifts Inventory. I have taken many over the course of my life, but this one had a few new gifts in it that I had not yet seen. A wonderful mentor once taught me that as important as your top strengths are, you need to know what your weaknesses are also. So here I am: “Missionary Ashley”, enjoying my one starbucks of the month in the Philippines after a grueling month of manual labor and caring for babies, and this inventory told me that my weaknesses are Missionary, Voluntary Poverty and Intercession. Which are arguably the most important things in being a missionary! Crazy, I know, and yet God still called me to this race. God is still able to use me, despite what I might feel are my weaknesses. No one is perfect, but that just gives God the glory even more when we feel like we cannot do something. It requires us to rely and depend on Him more.

In no way do I beleive that every must move overseas. Nor do I think that every young person must go on the World Race. However I do beleive that everyone’s lives should be focused around a global purpose for bringing the Kingdom here on earth. I do beleive that the Bible has called us all to not be a slave to money or other idols, and instead live a life pleasing to Him by obeying whatever He calls us to. Knowing that God calls us each to different things, and for each of us to carry our own cross. Nor do I want this to come across as me being ungrateful for any form of support that I have recieved in order for me to serve like I am currently doing. However I do think that the Bible says we need to do more for the orphans and widows than just send money. We are called to act. We are not only called to be radical in our giving, but also radical in our going. All of us are. This looks differently for everyone, but it doesn’t change the call.