Hi, friends! Welcome to my blog. I’m sure you’ve inferred by now that I have decided to take a little trip. Next July, I will be leaving for an 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries spending a month in each as a part of “The World Race”! The World Race is a ministry sponsored by Adventures in Missions which takes young people (ages 21-35) and sends them out among the nations to be the hands and feet of the gospel. i have felt God pulling at my heart to abandon the agenda I’ve had planned for myself post-college for some time now, and at last I have let go. I had a “now what, God” moment, that’s for sure. But through much prayer and thought, I have found myself here, beginning to prepare myself to embark on this journey with Him.
Doesn’t this seem a little out of left field? Yeah. Unsafe, out of the status quo? Yep. Didn’t I plan on going to grad school? You bet. Am I nervous, scared? Definitely. But when you’re called, you’re called. Let me share my heart with you…
The bible tells me that if I claim to be in Christ, I must walk as Jesus did (1 John 2:6). Now, when I sit down and critically examine Jesus’ life, when I look at how he actually walked, I get a little unnerved. I can’t find one account of Jesus sitting in a pew, half-heartedly listening to a guy on stage for 45 minutes, then rushing out of the building to get home to watch NFL football for hours on end. I can’t find one account of Jesus reluctantly attending hordes of “small groups” and “accountability sessions” out of pure obligation rather than conviction and true desire. I can’t find one account of Jesus plastering absurd amounts of verses on his walls meant to remind visitors of how spiritual He is rather than to remind Him of the mission of God. I can’t find one account of Jesus serving in “kids community” at church once a semester just to keep people off His back about His involvement in the church.
Uh oh. It seems to me that often times, I don’t walk as He did at all. It’s easy to get it twisted, to trick yourself into assimilation into the American church norm, to think that what makes you a Christian is the amount of times you attend church functions, the worship music you listen to, and the fact that you attempt to not say swear words. In reality, Jesus wasn’t defined by any of these things. His life on earth was never defined by an apathetic following of a symbolic God.
Jesus lived His life in relentless pursuit of the lost with total disregard to safety, security, and comfortability. When everyone else was walking away from the mess, Jesus walked right into it. He was quick to abandon His own comforts in order to supply the needs of others. He was often cold, hungry, beaten, insulted, and hated, but not once did He ever lose sight of the mission; to bring His people to reconciliation with God. The lengths He was willing to go to ensure that His children could receive full life were immeasurable. He humbled Himself and became obedient to death on a cross to make atonement for the sins of his sons and daughters. Jesus fully emptied Himself for me, and now I can fully empty myself for others. The Lord is making it very clear to me that He has called me deeper than an average christian life. He will not settle for disciples who are willing to follow when it’s convenient, or when their desires happen to align with His. Jesus calls His disciples to deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow him. At all costs. Sometimes, that means taking a trip around the world to find what it really means to abandon myself for the sake of the gospel. I fully expect Jesus to do unfathomable things in me as well as through me while I’m gone.
You see, no longer do I desire to be cautious or comfortable. I commit to live on the gospel’s edge, on the front line, where it isn’t safe or sure. I want my walk with the Lord to be defined by hardship, perseverance, and selflessness. I don’t want things to be easy anymore. I want to walk as Jesus did, embracing hard things and depending on The Lord to see me through. It is obvious that I am powerless on my own, but the spirit of God equips me and makes me a capable soldier for the mission. I am ready and willing to do difficult things for the sake of the gospel, to abandon my own wants and desires for the grace of God to be proclaimed, and this journey is but the beginning. I think I am starting to understand that authentically following Jesus isn’t easy, but it’s full, and it’s worth it. I pray that this realization comes more into focus in the months ahead.
My old pal (I wish I could have met that guy) A.W Tozer once said, “The word ‘faith’ is common these days, but placing one’s faith in God is a weighty action, uncommonly fraught with consequences and, by His design, inconvenience. Faith in God is reassuring and comforting only insofar as believers trust Him — and that depth of trust is the mark of a mature christian who has allowed faith to intrude on his life and shift his gaze away from his own aims, needs, and desires. This is nothing if not a painful and disturbing process, but nonetheless one that must be embraced by mature soldiers of the faith”.
So please, consider supporting me both financially and prayerfully. I expect this year to be one of the hardest, but best years of my entire life. I invite you into the journey with me. Adventure awaits.
Thank you so much for reading my first post! I will be using this space to articulate what The Lord is putting on my heart as I prepare, stories from the field, and overall life updates, or whatever else He decides to use it for! Once again, I invite you onto this journey with me. Please, ask me questions, pray for me, know my journey. I would love to hear from you. Hit “follow me” on the left bar to keep updated! Here’s a video to give you an idea of what I have said yes to. Happy reading!
Love, in Him,
Nate
