Hey everyone! Hope all is well and you are blessed beyond measure.
For this first blog post, I want to share my heart for why I am doing this World Race 10/40 Expedition. I know when people I share with hear the term “10/40 window” they usually all have the same reaction (once I tell them where exactly that is): “Why would you want to go there? Isn’t that a little dangerous?” And to that I usually answer, “Probably.” This reaction is natural and expected because those questions are perfectly logical. I completely see where they’re coming from. Well, two years ago my reaction towards taking such a trip as this would be hesitation at best… honestly, I wouldn’t go in a million years. I mean why would I? Most of these areas are notoriously hostile to the gospel, hostile to followers of Jesus. Why would I willingly put myself in harm’s way so that others might come to a saving knowledge of Jesus?
Two years ago I asked myself that question… and it brought me to tears. This is exactly what Jesus did for you and I. In fact, he willingly bore the wrath of the Father, which is infinitely more painful than any human method of execution. Wow. Going further, the disciples even did this!
I was forced to ask myself another question, why don’t I think and act this radically? I mean it’s an honest question. As disciples of Jesus, by the power of Holy Spirit he literally enables and empowers us to emulate Himself. Well, really I already knew the answer(s) to that question: comfort, routine, normality, ordinary. I’m used to the status quo and staying within my own boundaries of “living.”
“Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.” – John 15:20
“For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:21
“Through him [Jesus] we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3Not only that, but we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope[…]” – Romans 5:2-3
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” – Romans 8:16-18
These are some powerful statements made by Paul, but we can see that his life testified to the fact he was fully persuaded that gaining God was infinitely better than any earthly gain. And I have to be honest…I don’t think like this; which means my life will reflect that don’t think like this. Dying to myself while intentionally cutting off and killing sin was not something I practiced. Gosh, the Lord began doing a serious number on my heart at this point, and honestly it sucked. But I know in order to be refined, going through the fire is unavoidable.
International missions was something I never thought I would develop a heart to pursue. I’d always be passively open to it, but would never take advantage of mission opportunities because I simply wasn’t interested… but why was I not interested? Did I think that I was exempt from Jesus’ command to go and “make disciples of all nations?” Does being His witness “…to the end of the earth” in Acts 1:8 apply to only a small portion of Christians, those of whom does not include myself? Of course I never intentionally thought and believed this way, but my life reflected otherwise. But thankfully the Lord began to rewire my heart and my mind, which he is still doing.
This first post might be all over the place, but that’s kind of how I think. I’ll try and work on that. Anyways, love all of you dearly.
May the Lord bless you and keep you close to Him.
-Bradley
