So, if reality didn’t fully sink in after training camp, then it is really sinking in now that our official launch date has been set and my ticket booked. I will be leaving for Thailand on Jan. 6th from Los Angeles (Insert Miley Cyrus-“Party in the U.S.A”). Every passing day the anticipation mounts and I am one step closer to leaving for a year. As our departure date draws nearer and nearer, the more excited/anxious I feel every day. It is so comforting to rest in the fact that I know God had a plan for me and our squad long before we ever did. I honestly cannot wait to see how God is going to work in big ways through every individual member of our squad.
As excited as I am to begin this mission trip, it wasn’t until a couple of days ago that my perspective on this whole experience dramatically changed. This blog may come off as rather simplistic, or “how could you have missed this before Charles,” but I think it is a worthy point to note. Missions is great, this mission trip will be fun, challenging, awesome, and I will be forever changed, but this is not the greatest activity in the world. Missions is not first and is not the ultimate goal of the church. One day, missions will cease to exist. In fact, the only reason missions even exist in the first place is because worship of God does not.
Worship of God is what abides for all eternity, and is the ultimate goal both of the church and of missions, because God is ultimate. Pretty simple concept I know, but I find it so easy to lose sight of. Missions is not the goal, but merely the means. Wholehearted and authentic worship, and nothing short of this, has to be our passion and fuel for this upcoming year. Zeal and fire for our Lord in genuine adoration must precede the offer of the gospel. As missionaries, we cannot honor what we do not wholly cherish with our lives. When our hearts are blazing on fire to praise and glorify our Creator, then the majesty of God will burn so fiercely in us that the light of our mission will reach to even the darkest of places in this broken world.
How can you and I call out to the nations, if we are not first and foremost in love with our marvelous Savior? There is no doubt in my mind that our mission trip will accomplish many good tasks, but these good works are not enough if the centrality of our mission is not found in God alone. Good deeds are good, but without the love of Christ fully manifested in us, they are not good enough. Hopefully, this takes off any pressure or eliminates any expectations that you and I put on ourselves. Bottom line, all we simply have to do is rejoice and be glad in the greatness of our Lord.
For me this is not at all about a reduction in missions, but merely a higher magnification of God in my heart. So, whether you are going on this trip or you’re not, let me encourage you to allow your worship for our great God to fuel the mission and purpose of your life. Indeed, missions is the second greatest activity in the world, because the worship of our God will always remain as our highest ambition.
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts
have been revealed.”
Revelation 15:3-4
Much love!
