I think we’ve all heard the phrase “mission trip.” Or probably “mission field.” For a long time I used those phrases (I caught myself the other day telling someone I’m going on a 4-month mission trip. I then made myself go sit in the corner….ok, maybe not. 🙂 ). Using these phrases isn’t bad, but I have come to realize that there is really no such thing as a mission trip or mission field. Every single place we go (even the grocery store or bank, or, often in my case, coffee shops 🙂 ), as Christ followers, is our mission field. Our home is our mission field. Our workplace is our mission field. Our neighborhood is our mission field. Christ lives in us, meaning we are called to shine His love no matter where we are. Going to other countries to serve is definitely another way to radiate the Lord’s love, but His love should be radiating through us with every breath we take, in every country we are, to every person we meet. The man who brought me my dinner tonight needs Jesus. The prostituted woman I meet in India needs Jesus. The man who has trafficked people in Thailand needs Jesus. Everyone needs Jesus. We don’t go on the mission trip of a lifetime. We live a lifetime mission trip. 🙂
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”
– Isaiah 61:1-3
