After my post last week, I got a lot of feedback from people who were equally shocked and excited that we are going to become missionaries.
Somehow, a lot of people didn’t realize that I was talking about us becoming missionaries right here where we are. Not going somewhere to do it but starting to think, act and live as missionaries to the town we are in now.
What I want to do today is to invite you to not just follow our progress on this journey but to join us on it.
I’d like to extend you an invitation to become missionaries with us.
Now I know that some of you even now are making excuses why you can’t, won’t or shouldn’t join us in this so I want to ask you to, just a few moments, take the bible seriously and actually believe that it is truly saying what it’s saying.
You see, the bible says some things about us that, most of the time, we don’t take seriously.
Let’s start with 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Really? The old has gone and the new has come? Does your life look significantly like your old, sinful, self has gone away and been replaced by something new?
Now look at Philippians 3:20
… our citizenship is in heaven.
Our citizenship is in heaven? You mean, I have to give up my citizenship of my country here on earth? Well… not necessarily, but you do need to think which comes first for you. Answer honestly now, which is more important to you? Which are you more dedicated to, your earthly country or your heavenly kingdom?
You are a citizen of heaven. That’s part of what giving your life to Christ and becoming a new creation entails. You become a citizen of his kingdom.
Let’s go back to 2 Corinthians 5:20
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
So not only are we citizens of heaven now, we (that’s all of us who believe in Jesus – including YOU) are ambassadors of heaven to this mortal world.
I looked up the word ambassador online and got this definition: An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents their country
You are Christ’s highest ranking diplomat. You are the highest ranking representative of Christs kingdom here on earth.
That means all the time, 24/7, you are the cream of the crop, the topmost representative of Christ. People base their opinion of the kingdom of heaven on what you do – because you’re the ambassador.
Doesn’t that make you a missionary of sorts? I mean, since you’re here representing the kingdom of heaven, surely that means you’re on a mission to convince people to join you in God’s kingdom?
Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Making the most of every opportunity. Doesn’t that sound like what a missionary is supposed to do?
Ephesians 2:10 says:
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
You were created (remember how we’re new creations) to do good works, which God has already prepared for you to do.
Here are two different ways of living as a Christian:
- You do the things that you need to do to put a roof over your head, food on the table, pay for the car etc etc and then try to fit in some ‘God stuff’ where you can.
- Be like a missionary, who goes to a place with the purpose of witnessing for Christ, of being his ambassadors and making the most of every opportunity he gets. He (or she) then does whatever they need to do to enable them to continue with that work. Often that means getting a job but the job is only there to fund their activities as Christ’s ambassadors.
Which of those descriptions do you think best fits the verses we have been looking at today?
I think it’s description two. I think that description two is the description of someone who knows that they are a new creation, no longer of this world, a citizen of heaven, and an ambassador for Christ here on earth.
My guess is that for most of us, description number one fits our reality more though.
It is for this reason that I am asking you to come on this journey with me. It is because we have got our lives all mixed up and flipped around that I am asking, will you take the bible seriously? Will you read it and believe that it applies to you? Will you accept that Jesus Christ has made you a part of his kingdom and that you are now an ambassador here?
Jesus Prayed in John 17:14-18
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
Will you step out with me and commit to living as if that is really the truth. We are not of this world, as Christ is not of this world. We should be living for something more than the trappings that the world has to offer.
Will you become a missionary with me right in your home, in your street, in your town?
Will you walk with me on this journey or will you watch from your la-z-boy while I walk the path and blog about my experience?
I agree with every word you wrote today. I truly do. When I taught at a Parish school, I tried to live in that way. It’s harder now that I am a stay at home daughter…I’m cooped in a lot.. But I promise to try.
Helen,
It’s often hard to see how to live the missionary life where we are right now. It’s often harder to see when we already ARE living the missionary life.
I’m glad you’re along for the journey with me. I’m looking forward to what God is going to do in and through you!
This will be exciting.
Here‘s the scoop on some “official” missionaries In Paraguay
who made the shift:
Exciting is a good word for it Dave!
Great link there. EVERYONE, you should go read it!
Amen to your post. The heavenly arrow of purpose and destiny must pierce our heart with surges of sorrow for those going to hell.
The world must see the demonstration of someone who has passion and purpose rooted in another Kingdom. This means core values, paradigms, expression, all will be different.
Different is this society often equates to being scorned, dispised, rejected. Thus the walk is narrow and difficult.
It takes the purging fires of eternal purpose and weight of the Holy Spirit upon our mind and heart to walk the straight and narrow of being a missionary.
In my mind “England and America” are among the most difficult fields to reap. I think you have destiny in both places!
I know what you’re saying. When my wife and I moved to Alaska, we knew this is where God was leading us and there was a distinct Kingdom purpose in our going. Since that was the case, we’ve lived and thought differently here. We’re still Americans in America but we know why we’re here. I pray we all see and respond to where God has placed us because the harvest is there.
Amen Jason!
Jason…
I have lived in Alaska twice. Once in a village, once in a city. A very hard proving ground.
Randy
Randy- where was it exactly? I’m in Juneau and yes, it’s a hard place! But God is shining through and grace is sufficient.
I was in Fairbanks for two years and in King Salmon for 2.5 years. There is a job opening in Juneau I could apply for.
I will pray about it!
I worked with two people here in Kauai that are struggling in the Lord. I loved on them while they were here, they are now in Juneau! Small world.
Randy….
I think you’d like Jason’s church. I say that with confidence having never been there! 🙂
Jesus doesn’t want a part of us He wants all of us – and that is awesome – cause parts of me are not always in the best shape and to think He still wants me. Why wouldn’t I want to be fully on board for Jesus!
RIGHT ON DEB!
Great attitude. I just wish I could truthfully say I live that way already!
People should read your post from today: http://www.debwatson.net/blog_spot.php
Amen and amen, Peter. There are too many Christians out there either comfortable with the way things are or content to say live and let live. But Jesus said live and HELP live, didn’t He?
Amen Peter!! I am so excited b/c I am going to be doing my first VBS volenteering this summer at my church which I think is a good start for me to get off the lazy boy, so to speak. I do volenteer when I can at church, and am praying for more to have the fire of the Changed life in them. No, we are not the same, Thank You Jesus! Let’s live like we are Kingdom children. I too know too many Christians who can talk a good talk, but their actions don’t line up. It’s sad to watch, but sometimes I have to just be a bit selfish and say, that they do know better, and all I can do is be a positive, on fire example for my Jesus, and maybe someday they will get it. Bless you brother! Robin
Great challenge. I’m really proud of you.
Ironically, I think I’m living somewhere vaguely closer (though still MASSIVE room for improvement!) to the Ambassadorial life than when I was a missionary!
Why?
a) because I feel more in a position to be a ‘giver’, whereas then I definitely had the mindset of a ‘receiver’.
b) because I have to actually do it for myself, I’m not just part of a team who’s doing it for me
but most importantly
c) because I’m finding and developing a much closer realationship with Christ – partly through being thankful and, very much, because when I started looking outside myself and actively seeking to serve others, I think it opened a door I didn’t even know was there, and God came flooding in.
Amazing!
Keep inspiring us, Pete!
See you soon…
Thanks Jen,
Interesting… do you think it’s because, where you were a missionary, you were so involved in the middle of the organization and there were so many people around you that you were able to become dependent on your relationships, something you wouldn’t have had if you were alone in deepest, darkest Africa?
Was it any different in your first two years?
Yes, I think it is in large part because of being surrounded by such a big team. Alone in deepest, darkest Africa I would certainly have felt much more need of prayerful, daily reliance on God, and therefore felt the reality of the missionariness more.
It wasn’t much different on the ship. Yr 1 I kept my head down and did as little as possible. Yr 2 I realised that wasn’t such a smart plan and did a lot more, but still mostly ‘safe’ background-y jobs where I didn’t really have much connection (physical, mental or emotional) with actually building the Kingdom.
Did I not feel the desire because I wasn’t doing it, or was I not doing it because I didn’t feel the desire, or was it a bit of both? Who knows?