Hey I was going to write a blog about why “missions” matter to me, so you could see a bit deeper into my heart and thoughts. Below I will share a bit about what started me on “mission”. But I hope to convey why “missions” matter to God. If you claim to be a follower of Jesus or are interested to know what He cares about, this information is for you.
Shortly after I made a decision to follow Jesus wholeheartedly for the first time as an adult, I went to attend a Christian college.
If you truly want to learn something, or go FAR with something, you ought to IMMERSE yourself in it or you won’t see much of a result. I needed to learn more about God.
(I have had some distractions along the way, but to this day, it is my heart’s desire and career to KNOW who GOD is.. And explore my relationship with Him… He is infinite and eternal, so there is no way to stop learning, ever.)
While I was at the college, one of the classes I took was called Christian Mission. I signed up for it with no intention of doing “mission work”, and in fact that was NOT what the class or curriculum encouraged, for everyone to go and be “missionaries” abroad. But it was more focused on what life can look like when we, as Followers of Christ are partnering with Him. Being on mission with the God of the Universe!! (Woah, that is a weighty suggestion.)
I initially took the course because
1) A FRIEND and mentor who really loves me and whom I trusted SUGGESTED IT.
2) I WANTed to learn MORE about the suffering in the WORLD and what my role was within that.
I learned a lot about Human Traffiking through videos and speakers…. And much more of the ugly injustice in life. SO it would not be right to know someone is suffering and walk by (PLEASE SEE Luke 10:25-37)
Two of the many verses that God used to speak to my heart and spark my awareness were/are:
“ Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27
&
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlatsting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth- to every nation, tribe, tongue and people→ Revelation 14:6
THE PURPOSE OF “MISSIONS” is
Universal Reconciliation for Universal Worship.
I will start at the source…… Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great CO-MISSION)
After Jesus died and rose again, He came back to earth for a short time and He showed Himself to His followers. The message that He gave them to obey is:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen”
Does that mean I have to go out into all the world to differnt tribes, tongues and nations?
NO. but I am asked to make disciples, baptize, and teach. or support those that do. And I am asked to love my neighbour as myself.
And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42
And he also says: Assuredly I say to you inasmuch as you did it for one of the least of these, my brothern, you did it to ME. Matthew 25:40
It is evident through scripture that God has a heart for every people group, and God has a heart for suffering. He comes along side us in our suffering.
The Great CO-MISSION is a command from God, to His followers
…..but it is not the greatest commandment.
The greatest Commandment is To love God with all of your being. And the second is LIKE it.
(Matthew 22:35–40, Mark 12:28–34, and Luke 10:27a.)
To love God with ALL of my HEART, SOUL, MIND is to make my whole life and existence about relationship with Him. To make Him my number One goal and desire and to have Him in my thoughts. To care about the things He cares about. Kind of like people do when they have a best friend or maybe your relationship with your family, a significant other or a career you are striving at.
This type of all encompassing focus on anyone or anything is called WORSHIP.
Gods purpose through Jesus is to bridge the relationship that was lost, basically bring the WHOLE WORLD, (John 3:16-17) and all of Gods children back into relationship with Him. = Reconciliation.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
As plain as day, this set of verses shows what our “ministry / calling / mission” is. No matter where we are geographically.
Followers of Christ hold the title of Ambassadors of Reconciliation.
So how do we stewart that title well?
One of the common threads throughout all of Christ Followers who are bearing fruit is:
We cannot do anything on our own. We must ABIDE in Christ.
“.…He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit; for without ME you can do NOTHING.” John 15:5
“In Him we live and move and have our being” Acts 17:28
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Psalm 127:1
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” John 7:38
Everything good that I possess & give-away must come from a place of resting in God.
God is LOVE, so if I am not abiding in Him, I cannot live, love or express abundent life and love to others.
“So Why not just stay in the Western World and partner with God to help the hurting here?”
I would be happy to live the rest of this life in America. I do believe there is a need in America for more of Jesus’ light and love. Even with a church on every corner, somehow people don’t really know or seek to know the depth of who He is and how much He cares for them. It is my desire to love all people, not just in other nations, but I see a need in other nations too.
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People here have access to clean water and living water.
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I want to go where God wants me and I want to know where I am most utilized.
America and much of the western world has religious tolerance for the most part, people are free to explore religion, gather together, speak Jesus name out loud and study the Bible. In America there are over 900 different English translations of the Bible, so we have lots of access and variety. (Weather people here value and utilize their freedom is a different subject.)
*UPG stands for unreached people groups.
The people in America and most of the West are SATURATED with access to the Good News.
The above photo shows that there are more people working as Missionaries in America than in the places where No one has heard that Jesus Loves Them.
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear with out a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Romans 10:14-15
Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” James 2:18
Stay tuned and subscribe…. the next blog will be more focused on Unreached People Groups.
