When I saw that I was supposed to write a blog about how I was called to be a missionary, my very first thought was, “Wait, I’m not a missionary”. You see in my mind, I still automatically associate “Missionary” with those that are called to full-time foreign mission work. I don’t know if that’s what God has for my life, and I sure don’t remember God audibly telling me that He wants me to be a “Missionary“. And yes I do know that we are all missionaries in the sense that we are all called to live our lives in such a way that points others to Christ, but for some reason, I still automatically associate “missionary” with those long-term foreign missionaries. I was just called to go on a short term mission trip so I’m not a “Missionary” right?
It’s kind of funny the way God works. I had the privilege of growing up in an awesome church that was very missions oriented. It seemed like we always had missionaries visiting and speaking at our church. I distinctly remember sitting in the pews as a kid and thinking to myself, “I sure hope God doesn’t call me to be a missionary. I don’t want to have to go to some foreign country so far from home.” Oh the irony…
While as a kid I absolutely knew I didn’t want to be a foreign missionary, today, I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to go around the world telling people about Christ’s love for them! God has definitely done some cool things the past few years in my life changing my desires. I still feel completely unqualified to go. I’m not a strong public speaker. I’m not a naturally outgoing person. I don’t have a degree in Christian Studies. I don’t have all the answers. What I do know is that Jesus Christ loves everyone and wants a personal relationship with them. The world must hear about Christ’s love!
“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.” I get so consumed with how I’m not good enough or don’t have all the answers, but these are just excuses. Instead I want to live the life of a committed Christian, not a comfortable Christian.
“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
“The problem in our day is that many people have the false belief that there are two optional tracks in the Christian faith: the track of the committed Christian or the track of the comfortable Christian. God does not ask for confessions, He asks for commitments.” –Bro. John Hamby (paraphrase)
