Missionaries…radical followers of Jesus Christ.
In my early days of knowing Christ, I used to think that to be a radical follower of Christ, I would have to become a missionary and go to a far off land to win souls for Christ.
I still admire those who have followed such a call on their lives and have left the comforts of home for foreign lands to share Christ. I am constantly humbled by their sacrifice and the victories they have, often in the face of danger and great adversity.
But my concept of being a missionary was both ignorant and lacking in a true understanding of the great commission to Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature – Mark 16:15.
I pray I now have a greater understanding of God’s calling upon His church and also my understanding of what is a missionary now. As I have grown in my walk with God and the study of His precious Word, and what the mission field is for each of us, I now realize I am a missionary as well….as are you!
For example, in Australia, less than 3% of the entire population attend any given church on a Sunday morning. Yet now in third world countries, the locations where missionary’s first stepped, more people have a knowledge of Christ than those in Australia.
Statistically Australia has a greater missionary need now than such locations such as Africa and South America where many missionaries first travelled.
Each of us are missionaries, right here where we now live. Our mission field is Australia, Western Australia, the suburb and street in which we live, the school and work locations we find ourselves every day. God is challenging me, our church to understand this in the time we now live. I believe He is challenging us to understand our commission, our calling , that we are sent and that each of us are His missionaries.
May I ask that you pray and ask God for you to understand the calling of God on your life to be a missionary? May you then pray and ask God to give you opportunities, situations where you can share what Jesus Christ your Savior has done for you?
Finally, when you step out, out of your front door and each time you do realize you are on the mission field God has prepared for you to sow His seed. God will be with you. You will lead people to Christ. For you are a missionary!
The challenge is for us to each week each day…realize we are missionaries in a mission field.
It will be wonderful to hear of your missionary stories and the people God has led you to. May God go with you as you heed and recognize His call upon your life. Remember, our job is to share the gospel, it is the Lord who does the saving!