Part I of my Mexico Missions Trip Study begins with "It is God's World and God's Mission." How true! I hope to discover more about God, myself, God's people, and my place in God's mission.
"To engage in missions is to participate in the coming of the kingdom of God." We are instructed to write Matthew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV). (Incidentally, this was one of my favorite hymns from Tar Hollow). I am seeking the kingdom of God by making the decision to participate in this (His) mission.
We are instructed to define the kingdom of God. I believe living in His amazing and perfect grace, seeing that my words and actions glorify Him at all times, constitutes the kingdom of God. What does it mean to seek His kingdom? To me, it means to put my faith in Him at all times, rather than in my own abilities. Any talents I have were given to me by Him - anything I do well, I do well because of Him, not me.
"Jesus is very precise about where we are to serve." We are instructed to write Acts 1:1-9. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. "We are called and empowered by the Spirit to be witnesses in our community (Jerusalem), our country (Judea), among people of differing cultural backgrounds who live around us (Samaria), and to the ends of the earth." What are the four spheres (areas) of witness that Jesus describes as it relates to where I live? My community equates to my family. These are the people I am with on a daily basis - who have the same beliefs that I do. My country equates to my friends. These are the people I choosed to be around. Those around me who have differing backgrounds equates to my coworkers - those I have been placed with to achieve a common outcome. Finally, the non-Christian community represents the "ends of the earth." These latter two (coworkers and non-Christians, often one and the same) are the hardest spheres in which for me to live as a witness. I dread conflict, so when anyone debates my personal beliefs, I instinctively shy away. On the other hand, it is easiest for me to live as a witness around my family and friends. I know I have the responsibility to teach my children to know, love, and serve God, and my friends have the same set of beliefs as I. "What does Jesus say is needed before we can be witnesses?" He says we will have the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Pray- "that God would use you as a witness on this trip."
Heavenly Father, I do not yet know why you have lit a fire in my heart to be a part of this trip. But I do know that you have a plan for me, to use my unique talents, and that your reasoning will be evident in Your time. I ask You to use me in whatever way glorifies You best. I ask You to use me to teach Your people about Your amazing, wonderful grace. For I know that in doing so, I will be able to bask in the warmth of Your holy kingdom. Amen.
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