I pray that the stories each of us share this year in our blogs, the stories about girls trapped in prostitution, or the men enslaved by their sexual sins, or stories about beautiful children and poor families, and missionaries needing people to come encourage and fellowship with them. I pray that these stories will impact your life. I do not ask that they merely bring tears down your cheeks or a prayer about how much money you could send to help; I do not see in scripture where those responses are sufficient on their own. I do see however, scripture that says “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luke 10:2-3). God is calling you out to love Him and to love your neighbor.
Since making a year long commitment to serve the Lord on The World Race, I have now realized that when God asks us to “go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19)” he means it. He means go and make disciples everyday. I am learning to take every little opportunity each day to share Christ’s love, instead of always trying to look ahead at “the big picture”. As we step out in faith, we are all a part of the mission the Lord wants to accomplish. Some are called to other nations and some are called to reach their neighbors down the street or at the office, but no matter where it is, it comes down to listening to the heart of God. God did not just call a select few to be missionaries in far away places.
When we come to know Christ as our Savior, the only adequate response to his love should be our lives displaying that same love. Whether we travel to Bangkok, Thailand to serve as a follower of Christ or talk to someone in the supermarket checkout or begin loving a co-worker who does not know the Lord (which loving takes commitment and effort; it’s not always easy). The love Christ pours into our lives should be evident in everything, everywhere, and in all moments.
Our response to the freedom and salvation Christ offers us, should be just that, a response. My selfishness and pride often shadow my response to God’s love for me, but everyday I pray that I would fully come to know the hope of salvation that I have in Christ. The more Christ becomes real to me, the more my heart will overflow with response and gratitude that Christ chose me and gave me a life and a purpose. Would you make that a prayer for your life as well? I invite you to ask Christ to fill you with His life, and I believe when He does, you will want nothing more than to respond to the life He gives you.
I cannot wait to hear about the life He gives you!
