I mentioned in my update yesterday that God has pretty much made it clear that he wants me and my family to become missionaries.
Passing on that revelation through my blog has caused quite a stir, with people commenting and emailing me so I wanted to take some time today to try to define, in my own words, what a missionary does.
(the picture to the left is of the dump an Honduras where Terri and Marc Tindall minister).
- A missionary is reminded every day that they are in the mission field just by seeing the people around them. If you’re working in a refugee camp in Africa, it’s hard to forget why you are there.
- A missionary is focused on sharing the love of God with everyone they meet. Sharing God’s love doesn’t necessarily mean preaching, it can be acts of service or many other things.
- A missionary knows that everyone is watching them to see if what they preach is true. You cannot preach God’s love and forgiveness without displaying them yourself. You cannot call someone to change if you have not already changed.
- A missionary is more concerned with taking the good news to those who need it than about their own comfort. They don’t compromise their faith and beliefs just to not take risks at work and they don’t pull back from helping the poor and needy just to protect their possessions.
- A missionary puts the mission and God’s calling before everything else.
- A missionary does whatever is necessary, when it’s necessary. You don’t reach out to people by saying ‘no’ all the time.
- A missionary allows him or her self to be held accountable by others. Reporting back on the work they have been doing helps keep their minds focused on the idea that they should be doing something to report on.
- A missionary gives up something, or even everything, for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is what God started talking to me about. This level of commitment is what he is calling me to.
Let’s say he calls me to the jungles of Borneo. I have to give up all of my comforts and luxuries and go do whatever it takes to reach out to the indigenous people there. WHATEVER IT TAKES.
So here’s the deal. I need to give up everything I have, go wherever he sends me and dedicate my life to reaching people for Him.
Do you want to know where he’s sending me?
Right here, where I live, right now.
God wants me to give up my life and take up my cross and follow him. He wants me to not just talk the talk but to walk the walk. God wants me to start thinking like a missionary, doing all those things I’ve listed above (and more that I haven’t thought of yet). God wants the all that I would give him if he sent me to Africa, right here, right now. It doesn’t matter to God that I am in the USA. Location is not important – attitude and commitment are
If I could live the missionary life in another country, why can’t I do it here at home?
How about you? Is God calling you to do the same? What has he been laying on your heart as you have been reading this?
I knew this was where you were going with this. I am on board 1,000%!!!! We had a discussion earlier about perspective. God is so concerned about our hearts and doesn’t care about the details of what we’re doing, just that we are giving everything we’ve got for Him. Missionary is a state of mind, an attitude. I’m with ya Peter!!!!
Amen
I was thinking the same thing as you wrote the other post. Very nice and sneaky! I think that’s the hardest thing is to remember why you’re in the place you’re in. It’s not for comfort or security- it’s for him. This is why I end every one of our services with “you are loved and you are sent.” We’re all in the mission field whether we know it or not.
Good stuff!
Interesting, as we are all called to be Kings and Priest of the Most High God. There is plenty of room to take an honest look at what scripture says about the Church, “might I add that is us,” and who we are are supposed to be? Kings, priests, ambassadors, soldiers, laying down our life.
When we take seriously “our call” before the witness of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost- Then life is no longer boring or Christianity blase! We are on the path that “we may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and fellowship of His sufferings!”
We as spoilt Americans, familiar with sufferings associated with our disobedience, the consequences of sin. God in a genuine expression that comes from His throne is breathing life into the otherwise defunct American Church- And as with Ezekiel, we discover the Valley of Dry Bones can live- Only turn from our idols and sin to serve the living God.
In this fresh move of God- If repentance is not in the vocabulary, if purity is not in the vocabulary-If humility is not in the vocabulary-If the idea to suffer from being obedient to Christ is not in the center of it all to bring Him glory-Then it will be just another genuine move poisioned by the merit of man, reinventing the wheel, a ho-rah cause without substance.
Where is the sober and vigilant spirit? So to speak, the need to bleed for the Kingdom of Christ, that which ushers in persecution, suffering- likewise the favor of God in rivers of living water, in miracles and in truth.
This is not a joy ride Church! Deep calls to deep!
The whole of America is a very hard missionary field, from supposed saint to the sinner.
Amen Peter! I am soooo proud of you. I just finished my undergrad today,yippee, and am looking forward to going to seminary, which I feel that God has placed on my heart. It’s uncharted terrritory for me, and I have no clue what God is up to, but like you, I have said over and over to Him, I will give up whatever you make me give up and follow you, the great provider and sustanier of my life. I see so many people dealing with change and God’s move on their life, its so exciting! You Go Man!!! Keep us updated, as I know you will. Blessings and prayers, Robin
Thanks Robin I’ll be sure to keep you all up to date with what’s going on.
Oh and congratulations on completing your undergrad studies!
Well put Peter…you have a gift for putting into words what God is speaking into the heart!
What a privilege to honor God in ALL we do, WHERE EVER we do it!
May the Lord bless you and your family!
Deb
You’ve said it perfectly, Peter. There is so much hurt in so much of this world that often we forget about the hurt that’s around us. There are so many lost souls right in our own backyard.
What Billy said…
Amen, Peter. I used to spend a lot of days wishing I was once again young and single and available for the mission field. I’m now not-so-young and married and am content with the mission field I’ve discovered of every place my feet tread.
Amen Anne!!
Thanks for dropping by, and welcome to Rediscovering The Church!
You make a great point about contentment. It’s something we all need to learn!