Intro: This was written just days after returning from my first international mission trip January 8, 2019
I found myself asking this question a lot while I’m in the presence of a miracle mainly because God always seems to shatter my expectations. Coming off of a trip that left this much of an impact on my life and my calling, it’s hard to rationalize and compartmentalize what God just did through me to help other people. This is the reason for missions: To go out into the nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). I have also realized missions is all about a willingness and sacrifice to put aside your own interests to further the kingdom. This is our duty as followers of Christ. I myself have struggled with this word calling. A time where identity is both easily lost and easily found, where we are right now. My identity was always placed in the well being of others, whether that be to please them or to be like them: this was my life and death…
What on Earth am I here for? I’ll show you in due time
What am I supposed to do? Be my disciple
Where do I go? Wherever I am
I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I gave my life to Christ at the ripe age of 17. I thought this was just a thing most people did when their life hit an all time low, when they had no where to go, when the only thing they could rely on was Jesus and yes while this is a portion of Christianity, it’s not the only function. This gift, a free gift, called grace is given to us (even though we have done nothing in our lives to ever deserve something of this magnitude and this gift is free of charge because it was bought for us on a sinner’s cross in Golgotha) and once we receive this gift, we are mutually responsible to distribute it to others who seek it…
How do I be like you? Everything you need to know is in front of you
What is my destiny? You will find it
Can you hear me? I’ve always heard you
God doesn’t want to be put inside of a box. Many believers in this generation like to receive salvation and then keep all the benefits. I cannot stress the importance of avoidance of this. Even if this means opening this box to your closest friends and family or opening it to just yourself, the end goal of our lives is to open this box to everyone and anyone. This brings me back to missions. The purpose of the Costa Rica mission was found in the vision verse of the trip John 13:34-35:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As i have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love another”
This seems like a simple command. But is it? We all have enemies. Do you love them despite them wronging you? Do you love them despite the hurt they have put you through? Do you love them despite the disagreements? Insults? Bitterness? Most of these answers would be no because human nature. But the more I ponder this subject, I find that the people I don’t associate with are the ones that need that box opened to them. They need the blindfold taken off their eyes and they need help getting into the boat with Jesus. Jesus had many enemies. Even though I’m not Jesus and never will even come close, I can at least follow this command…
How can I help this person? Ask them
Why do they need me? Because you are my disciple
What do I need to say? Say this…
We are not waiting for a move of God, we are a move of God. When we travel to some far land to help teach others about Jesus and what He taught and what He has for them, that, now that is what He wants. The people who never thought they would see Americans travel far and wide to show them the love they deserve. The people who grew up not knowing who Jesus was, living in sin and destined to die, seeing us and realizing this gift of grace is free of charge. To the people in our own backyard, who grew up knowing Jesus but their identity is lost and they need to find it again…
Who can I help today? Seek and you will find them
How can I further your kingdom? Share the gospel
Who do I need? Your brothers and sisters
God doesn’t want you to feel ashamed of your past. We’ve all sinned. We all fall short of heaven (Romans 3:23). But Jesus. I find myself saying this often. But Jesus… I don’t think I can. I can’t be worthy. I won’t be able to… But Jesus. But Jesus… in response: You can do anything because of me (Philippians 4:13). You are worthy in my eyes (Luke 12:6-7). You are able (Romans 5:3). This shame of the past, stress in the present, and anxiety of the future is not from the Lord. The enemy has many tactics to distract us from our destiny. But the enemy cannot prevent us from receiving this gift, he can only distract us and disable us and cripple us. But when we realize this box that we like to put God in is suddenly opened, everything changes. Jesus changes the atmosphere, the attitude, the mindset…This mission trip broke chains and I saw it firsthand.
Now Haiti and DR, we are on our way…
