Two of the things I love most about our lead pastor is his thirst for knowledge and his compassion for others. The way he lives inspires me to be a person of purpose. He recently sent an article to members of our congregation entitled, Simply Missional written by: Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger.
Articles such as these get my adrenaline pumping for action, but they also set me to question whether I am allowing myself to be fully used of God for His purpose. I often take a good hard look at myself, the fruit of my living, and wonder if I’m doing “enough” or if what I am doing serves a purpose.
I work in a secular environment. Inside and outside of work, most of the people I come into contact with are not believers. When I meditate on the mission Jesus gave to His disciples – that includes believers today – I am drawn to the words go, all, teaching and observe. Matthew 28:19-20 reads, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of age.”
I have had countless discussions with other believers who have thought, as I have often and errantly thought, that in order to be an effective disciple I need to be outside my own country – I need to be a “missionary.”
Canada is a veritable melting pot of people from other nations - people right here – in my community – in the marketplace and in my place of employment. These are places where I go every day. The best way to teach someone is not to give them a book to read – what if they don’t understand it?? Simply telling them what you want them to know cannot fully be appreciated without vision. The best way to teach someone is to teach the way Jesus taught - by example. He wasn’t simply the presence of light; His character and behaviour cast light – many who observed Him were taught by Him. He didn’t always preach to people, sometimes He just shared a meal with them and told stories, and often times that was enough to set things in motion.
Stetzer and Geiger wrote: “Missional leaders fall deeply in love with the city or town in which God has placed them. They embrace and embed themselves in their community. Such leaders understand the vital key of incarnational ministry by living out the words of Jesus on a daily basis through a missional rhythm of being a blessing to the people (community) to which they are sent.”
Have you ever thought your “mission” was mission impossible? It’s not. Our mission is mission possible. God never gives us a task without first equipping us and placing us where He wants us.
