Below is some of what God has been revealing to me since last year! I hope it blesses and encourages you. Thank you again for your prayers and love! God bless!
Romans 5:18-21:
“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (ESV)
Most people, including myself, see how this passage applies to their own struggle with sin and relationship with God. And I believe that this passage is a wonderful encouragement to the life we have in God’s grace! Lately, though, God has been revealing to me how powerfully this can pertain to missions! You see, this portion of Romans is talking about the spiritual death in Adam, and the spiritual life we now have through Christ. Man’s first sin that brought the fall of all mankind is referring to Adam and Eve. The one powerful act of holy righteousness that has brought justice and grace for all mankind is Christ’s life on earth and death on the cross! So by way of example, Jesus showed us that where sin and spiritual darkness increase, the very embodiment of Grace is there in the midst of it.
I said this pertains to missions, but really, it doesn’t matter what you do for a living or where in the world you live. This is for you and me as Christians. I’ve seen how, mostly in America, we have grown as “Christians” that see bad lifestyles, bad habits, and even “bad sins” as a reason to avoid people. (As if I don’t have that sin-issue, so I’m better off.)
“I mean, as a Christian I shouldn’t be around that kind of lifestyle. Right?”
Wrong!!
God’s word points us to a lifestyle that is to be in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-18). Romans 5 tells us that, as Christians, our reason on earth is to go towards the sinners!
“…where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Part of our job as Christians is to emulate grace to this lost world. But that kind of light won’t be very effective if it refuses to go into the dark!
As much of a generalization as this might be, I think that the American Church has too easily dismissed fulfilling its responsibilities in the name of “not associating with sinners” for the sake of perception or reputation among other believers. I am no exception. I have found myself guilty of this. Yet, if I were seen here in the states spending time with and reaching out to thugs, prostitutes, thieves, and druggies, I personally know people who would question my salvation. But because now I’m going overseas to do the same thing in the name of missions it’s all of a sudden ok and I’m a great Christian!? No! That’s not how it’s supposed to be. Jesus did the same thing before He was crucified and the Pharisees and religious leaders looked down on Him for it just the same.
We need to do the same thing that Jesus did! The more sin and darkness there is we need to take grace and light into the heart of that very sin and darkness! At that point we leave it up to the Holy Spirit to cause that grace and light to convict lost souls to repentance.
Remember, our actions are a reflection of our heart. As followers of Christ, we aren’t doing the lost any favors by not pursuing their lives! Instead of going into the dark places of the world and pouring into the lost souls, we’d rather talk about sin and how big of a problem it is than address it head on and actually have faith for once that God has the power to use us to reach out to a fallen world.
So I ask you… Where are all my brothers and sisters?? Because I know from experience that hiding behind closed church doors from the dark world we live in is not the purpose of the institution of the church! It’s not living righteously, it’s living in fear. If we truly believe in the power, might, and sovereignty of our Lord then it’s about time our actions reflected that belief from our hearts.
Folks, this is a huge part of what God has used to drive me towards missions overseas. I hope and pray that this drives you towards seeing every person around you as your own mission field. We aren’t supposed to avoid the realities of the world around us. We’re supposed to charge them head on, full of God’s truth in us and covered with the full armor of God!
-Be emboldened and God bless!
