The more I interact with the everyday believer there is something I’m noticing. A large majority of them feel as if they are in some sort of holding cell waiting on God to say “Go!” Evangelism, Ministry and Missions are NOT EVENTS! It’s not a place we go to do something! It’s a life we LIVE. EVERYDAY. ALL DAY. In Luke 10 there was a parable about a good samaritan. To sum it up, a man was robbed and beat and left for dead. A priest passed the man. A levite passed the man. A Samaritan guy “on his journey” went to help the man. This very brief paraphrase says so much. The priest and levite were probably on their way to go and “do ministry” and missed the ministry that was right in front of them in the everydayness of their life.
There are many people “dead” in their sins and they are on the side of the road needing help and we each encounter them on a daily basis. They are in the grocery store. They are your annoying co-worker. They are the mean boss. They are the quiet classmate. They are the wild family member. They are your neighbors whom most folks don’t know the name of. We so readily want to go across the sea, which is awesome, but we miss the people across the street or next door.
Our whole lives should be about the mission of God. We are ALL missionaries if we have been saved by Jesus Christ. When is the last time you shared the message of Christ with a stranger or friend that you know or may not know that needs Jesus?
Could it be that the apathy and boredom in your faith is a result of stagnation in the mission of Jesus? It’s exhilarating when you step out on water and trust God at a local restaurant or grocery store. Even if nothing “happens” the adventure of knowing you’re doing his work is exciting.
I want to leave us with a passage of scripture that made me laugh. In Exodus 14, Pharaoh and his army was chasing the children of Israel. They noticed the army pursuing them and Moses cried out to the Lord. The Lord’s response was key. The Lord said to moses “why are you crying out to me? Tell the people of Israel to get to moving!” I think that’s very significant because often we are waiting around asking God to “use us” or “ waiting to be called to something” and I can hear him nudging us to get to moving. He’s already given us the mission. Go! He’s with you! The field is always around you!
Until Next Time
Demetrius