Do you ever marvel at the countless types of people that God created? The shy, the outgoing, the planners, the loud ones, the leaders, the easy going, those who say "we'll wing it", the talkers, the listeners, the lovers, the fighters, the morning people, the night owls. God certinaly knew how dull living in community would be if we were all the same, but God also makes clear that no matter what type of person he created us to be, we were ALL called to take his truth and glory to the ends of the Earth.
What are mission trips anyway? Is it some sort of humanitarian effort that our friends and family can applaud and say job well done? The majority of churches these days have some sort of section or shelf in the foyer labeled "missions"....what does that even mean? It seems that telling people about Jesus has become more of a marketed option to those that have the "heart" for it and are "called" to the "mission" field. How often have you heard someone say, "I just need to pray about going on that mission trip and see if God is telling me to go". The thing that we, all of us, are missing is that God has already told us to go. The bible doesn't say that certain types of people are called, or people in certain circumstances that allow them to go are are called.
One of everyone's favorite scriptures is Romans 8:28- "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose". We all love to lean on this, because of course we think that God is going to work things for our good, because he has created us all for a purpose. When was the last time we prayed about whether or not we should apply this scripture to our life? Never or never?
However, Matthew 28: 18-20, I'm sure isn't on many Facebook pages or bathroom mirrors- "Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." This one, is always prayed about..."does Jesus really mean me", "am I called to do this", "is it safe", "do I have time", "what about money". The prevailing purpose is that we just go, nothing else matters because Jesus makes clear that if we are obedient to him, he will be faithful to us- " I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15: 5. The next verse goes on to say "if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." Jesus is saying, your circumstances don't matter because you were called to serve me, to tell people everywhere about my greatness, and if you step out in faith....I'm going to provide and give you whatever you need because you ARE going to bear fruit for my glory.
At some point we have to stop praying and be willing, willing to listen to what God has already been saying for thousands of years, willing to stop questioning and making it complicated. At some point we have to step out of our comfort zone's and just go, because that's what it's about. It's about opportunity, and the willingness to recognize and act when God presents one, because he will. It may be somebody you see at church every Sunday, but needs you to show them a real love and to speak life into them more than you can imagine, it may be risking your life to tell people about Jesus in North Korea....but it may also be something in between those two....It may be with the gas station cashier who has been searching for a group of believers to serve with and he asks about a shirt you happen to be wearing that day, with a bisexual girl who says she doesn't need God and hates homeless people but is willing to go feed them because of the way you have shown her love, with a girl who sits next to you on a plane and somehow is able to open up and talk about things that people don't talk about on airplanes. All of them, however, are outrageous. With purpose, and planned for that moment in time. It takes courage to rock the boat at your church, to spread the word in a foreign nation and to speak up and share your joy with the stranger sitting next to you. We don't have a choice, we're called to them all, putting our time or money or even safety aside. Losing our life, one way or another-Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay my life down for you." Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me?" John 13:37.
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave
tonight's the night for the sinners and the saints
two world's collide, in a beautiful display
Toby Mac
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