A Missionary's Confession

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2, 3)

I confess that as one involved in missions for over 15 years I have taught the major reason the church is on earth is for missions – to fulfill the Great Commission.  I have encouraged people to give more, pray more, go more, and care more so we can get this job done and hasten the return of our Lord (Matthew 24:14).

But now, I no longer believe our primary commitment should be to the task of world evangelism. Instead of committing to the task first, we must be committed to the Person first.  Instead of giving our all to the Great Commission, we must, first, give our all to the Great Commissioner.

Actually I always believed this, but assumed it was understood.  Yet, it’s too easy to forget the Person and focus only on the project.  When challenged by images of lost millions suffering in poverty and spiritual darkness we must never forget there is a God who knows the name and number of hairs of each of those poor suffering souls; missions was the passion of His heart long before our heart began to beat.

If we forget that, missions become a heavy task described in terms of obligation and responsibility. But when we remind ourselves that missions is God’s heart, God’s idea, and He cares more for the lost than we ever could, we shift this overwhelming burden off us and onto the only One big enough to bear it.

Sirisha-Tenali

Missions is our participation in what God is already doing, in fact, has been doing for 6,000 years or longer.  Reaching the lost is God’s mission and we have the joyful privilege of walking and working with Him as He accomplishes it through us.

He will do it through you as you pray for missionaries and the lost.  He is doing it through you as you write a check to support one of God’s sent ones.  He will do it through you as you go on a short term trip or change your life radically. However He chooses to use us, it is our privilege to participate with Him in what He is doing.

Participation may involve sacrifice, struggle, and sorrow, but we don’t accept these costs out of a sense of duty, but as an expression of love.  I am tired of being committed to a task.  I want to go back to my first love and be committed to a Person.

 I am exhausted from carrying the responsibility for world evangelization on my tiny shoulders.  I am ready to put it back on the strong shoulders that bore the wooden cross and bore the sins of the world.

I have found this does not actually change what I do, but it changes everything about my attitude and perspective.  It is now a joy to join my heavenly Father in doing what delights His heart; sharing Good News about the great things He has already accomplished to reconcile the world to Himself.  I get the privilege of praying, giving and even going to let God fulfill His dream through me.

Let us focus like a laser on the Great Commissioner and I guarantee we will be more effective in our efforts at the Great Commission.

--Russ Sharrock

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When David Livingston sailed for Africa the first time, a group of his friends accompanied him to the pier to wish him a safe journey. Some of them, concerned for the safety of the missionary, re-minded him of the dangers which would confront him in the dark land to which he was going. In fact, one man urged Livingston to remain in England. In response, David Livingston opened his Bible and read aloud the portion of our Lord’s last recorded words in Matthew's Gospel, chapter 28, “And surely I am with you always...” Turning to the one who would have prevented his going, the missionary said: “That, my friend, is the word of a Gentleman. So let us be going — (Taken from The Pilgrim).

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Pray for the Unreached Bathudi of India

Population: 247,000
World Pop: 247,000
Main Language: Oriya
Main Religion: Hinduism
Bible: Complete
Status: Least-Reached
Christ-Followers: Few, less than 2%

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