Last November I got off the plane
from 11 countries 11 months and immediately I wanted to eat. I had missed
the food, every bit of it. It’s not that I went without on the World Race
but there were many times I was just hungry for appetizers, meat, vegetables,
potatoes and desert to top it off. I
felt like the entire time on the Race I was just working out day after
day. I sweat and lost so much weight from working out so much and it
seemed like I wasn’t being replenished. I was just exercising but not eating the right foods to build myself
back up.
I came home and just kept going to
the table to eat eat eat. I would
get full and just keep eating, not exercising like I needed to. I
kept eating because it was my comfort, something I was used to. I was
given many opportunities to exercise but I didn’t obey and would eat instead.
I made a habit of it. Every time the
doors were opened I went in to fill myself up.
It wasn’t until this past week in
Costa Rica that full time missionary, Ron Droke, helped me realize that I was
so bloated. I WAS BEING A GLUTTON!
People have already been asking me
since I’ve been back, “How was Costa
Rica?” There is only one way for me to describe it. Costa Rica was a gym for me. I got to
truly work off the food that I had been eating.
I’m often told by people, “I’m so proud of what you’re doing as a
missionary.” And then they lean over to whisper, “but that’s not my calling.”
You know, it actually is the calling
God has placed on all of us as believers. We are spiritual gluttons if we just
go to church every time the door is opened, listen to the word but never do
what it says. We will get fat and be seen as
hypocrites.
says and if you don’t do what it says you’re only fooling yourself.” –
James 1:22
“A
missionary isn’t someone who goes across seas. We are missionaries the
moment we enter into a relationship with God. He saved us to go and tell,”
Ron Droke. I can’t make disciples if I am not a disciple
myself. I MUST LEARN AND LIVE!
on the mission field. While there
have been many who have whole heartedly encouraged and supported me, I’ve been
talked about, ridiculed, chastised, mocked but THAT HASN’T AND WILL NOT STOP ME
FROM DOING WHAT GOD HAS CALLED ME TO DO.
“There’s work to be done in the states. Why do you keep going out of
the country?” I am doing my share part in the states but I go
to the ends of the world because that is what God has commissioned us to do.
But
I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for
“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
and
their words to the ends of the world.” – Rom 10:18
When I go to villages in countries like Costa Rica I get confirmation that I’m doing what God
has called us to. He uses me to love people that may have
never even heard God’s name. I don’t always see them make a decision to
enter into covenant with Him but I do see a seed planted.
We
are not called to comfort; we are called to care for our neighbors. Our neighbors are all around this world and I’m willing to
forfeit a high paying salary, an oversized vehicle or home, comfort food and
people that look like me just so I can give the message to the Ends of the
World that they are loved by a saving God. I refuse to keep eating and
not exercise.
I
REFUSE TO BE A SPIRITUAL GLUTTON!
