I have a confession: I am
not, and have never really been great at following any sort of daily
devotional. Now, don’t get me wrong, rarely does a day go by that I don’t spend
some quality time with the Lord, but I am not very good at following along a particular
plan or outline. I tend to have a few devotionals rolling around at once and
just sort of pick whichever one I feel like each day. Fortunately, God doesn’t
seem to follow a particular daily devotional either.
Today I went for “My
Utmost for His Highest” and I couldn’t have picked a more appropriate selection
myself. This is what it had to say:
October
27: The Method of Missions
“Go therefore and
make disciples of all the nations …” (Matthew 28:19 ).
Jesus Christ did
not say, “Go and save souls” (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work
of God), but He said, “Go … make disciples of all the nations … .” Yet you
cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples
returned from their first mission, they were filled with joy because even the
demons were subject to them. But Jesus said, in effect, “Don’t rejoice in
successful service-the great secret of joy is that you have the right
relationship with Me” (see Luke 10:17-20 ). The missionary’s great essential is remaining
true to the call of God, and realizing that his one and only purpose is to
disciple men and women to Jesus. Remember that there is a passion for souls
that does not come from God, but from our desire to make converts to our point
of view.
The challenge to the missionary
does not come from the fact that people are difficult to bring to salvation,
that backsliders are difficult to reclaim, or that there is a barrier of
callous indifference. No, the challenge comes from the perspective of the
missionary’s own personal relationship with Jesus Christ-“Do you believe that I
am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28 ). Our Lord unwaveringly asks us that question,
and it confronts us in every individual situation we encounter. The one great
challenge to us is-do I know my risen Lord? Do I know the power of His indwelling
Spirit? Am I wise enough in God’s sight, but foolish enough according to the
wisdom of the world, to trust in what Jesus Christ has said? Or am I abandoning
the great supernatural position of limitless confidence in Christ Jesus, which
is really God’s only call for a missionary? If I follow any other method, I
depart altogether from the methods prescribed by our Lord-“All authority has
been given to Me … . Go therefore …” (Matthew 28:18-19 ).
