Verse: John 17:18
“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
Devotional Thoughts:
A common word that Christians throw around is the word “mission.” We go on “mission” trips, support “mission”aries, and talk about living life on “mission.” But what does that mean? What does it mean to live our lives on mission?
In this passage, Jesus is praying to the Father for His disciples, both the ones currently with Him and the ones “who will believe,” meaning you and me. In this prayer, He gives us a glimpse of what being on “mission” really means – it means to be sent by Jesus. And we have been sent, haven’t we? We know the charge: Go and make disciples of all nations. All nations. All cultures. All peoples.
I lived in Yellowstone for four months a few summers back. Four months of hiking through beautiful scenery, running away from irate elk, hammocking in the 70-degree summertime weather, and making new friends from all over the world. But I wasn’t there for the sunshine or the scenery. I was there for the purpose of ministry. One particular new friend stands out – her name was Cherry, and she was a Buddhist from Thailand. I had spent several weeks building our friendship and trying to witness to her. One day, she asked me to stop by and talk with her and her roommate when I got off work. I swung by after I’d clocked out for the day, and to my surprise, I was greeted by roughly a dozen people, mostly Thai, circled up waiting to talk with me. As we sat down, Cherry asked me a question I’ll never forget. She asked, in her broken English, “Zac, can you tell us about Jesus?”
We need to understand that our world is aching for the good news of Jesus. Studies show that 84.7% of the Thai people are Buddhist. Just 1.3% are Christ-followers. That means almost 99 out of 100 Thai people don’t know Jesus. And this is but one example. So let me allow Paul to ask the necessary question:
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?
– Romans 10:14-15
And we have been sent. God could choose a lot of different avenues to share the Gospel with unbelievers. He could appear in a burning bush as He did with Moses, or shine as a bright light as He did with Paul. But He doesn’t do that. Instead He uses people like you and me. Think about that – you and I are God’s best plan for sharing the Gospel with the world.
FBC Bells shouldn’t be just a place of ministry, but rather a base for ministry. So maybe we should ask ourselves some questions. How can we, as a church and as individuals, impact our communities locally for the Gospel? How can we impact unreached areas around our country for the Gospel? What if we dared to think big and asked, how can we impact unreached areas around the world for the Gospel? What if we dared to think big and asked, how can FBC Bells make an impact in this world, in such a way that people like Cherry don’t have to go their entire lives without a chance to hear the Gospel?
Points to Ponder:
But I want to encourage you on an individual level to think big as well. SBC studies show that there are several areas around this country that are relatively unreached with the Gospel. What if we began to ask ourselves different questions? Maybe, instead of asking, “Am I called to go?” we could ask, “Am I called to stay?”
We have been sent. We’ve been called to live lives on mission, to carry out the mission of Jesus. And this isn’t a mission for a few of us, but for all of us.
- College students and teachers, how could God use your talents during the summertime?
- Retired folks, how could God use your retirement time and your abilities for His kingdom?
- Everyone, how could God use your specific giftings for His kingdom, both locally and remotely?
If you’d like to find opportunities to serve, but don’t know where to start, please get in touch with me. I’d love to connect you with resources and opportunities to go and serve the Lord.
Blessings,
Zac
