Ok, just one more blog today! I was learning so much in my time with Jesus this morning that I just have to share it! I wanted to break it into 2 posts because it isn't exactly related and also, I like to keep my posts somewhat short so people don't get tired of listening to my rambling =)
I've been incredibly fired up about missions lately. I have been reading Radical by David Platt and I've come to realize that missions is not a calling, it's a command.
Acts 13:47 - For so the Lord has commanded us saying, "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
Radical really changed my perspective on "my life" and turned my way of thinking upside down. It has been amazing. I'd advise that you read it. Whether you are "missions-minded" or not, it will still change how you view everyday life and what God has commanded of us. Not asked.. commanded.
So one of the questions in the very beginning of the book asked if I was REALLY willing to give up EVERYTHING for the one who gave His life for me, in order to spread the word. I took a few days to think on that. Literally. I stopped reading the book until I found my answer. I wasn't willing. But I was determined to change that. The more I searched for God in the pages of His word, the more willing I became. And now it has become the ONLY desire of my heart to spread the gospel of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Again, literally.
Once I crossed that barrier of the willingness factor, every aspect of my perspective and life view changed. All I want is to know Jesus deeper and to share that with everyone. I got so incredibly excited for the mission that I became restless and eager to leave and begin telling people about our amazing God.
Within just a few days I actually started to become miserable.. WHAT??? I was excited and fired up about Jesus just the other day!? What is going on!?!?! When I realized that my misery was stemming from the realization that I can't leave on missions for quite a while, I felt a little better. But only a little. I was still restless, still kinda bummed. But this morning in my time with Jesus, everything turned around....
In reading Radical, I realized that there is a mission right here in front of me. It is a huge task to take on and I have been wasting my time focusing too far ahead. I was just wishing my time away for the day I get to travel in His name, when He's got something amazing right here in front of me.. check it out:
Matthew 28:19 - Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Make disciples? What? At first when I read that I brushed it off because I assumed that was for the male leaders and deacons of my home church to worry with. Then it dawned on me how very wrong I am! I have been called to make disciples in my time right here. This moment where I am "stuck" (for lack of better words) I am to be bringing people up in the teaching of His word and working to ignite that same fire in them for the command of Jesus to tell others about the gospel. Disciples aren't just men. And making disciples is not just for men. I have been misconstruing this idea, this command of Jesus for my entire life!
WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING?!?! So many disciples to make, so little time! I want to leave on my world race in less than a year. And leave for summer camp in an even shorter time than that. I don't have much time to be making these disciples! Time is of the essence, why am I wasting it?
So that was another thought for the day. Are you making disciples where YOU are?
I've been incredibly fired up about missions lately. I have been reading Radical by David Platt and I've come to realize that missions is not a calling, it's a command.
Acts 13:47 - For so the Lord has commanded us saying, "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
Radical really changed my perspective on "my life" and turned my way of thinking upside down. It has been amazing. I'd advise that you read it. Whether you are "missions-minded" or not, it will still change how you view everyday life and what God has commanded of us. Not asked.. commanded.
So one of the questions in the very beginning of the book asked if I was REALLY willing to give up EVERYTHING for the one who gave His life for me, in order to spread the word. I took a few days to think on that. Literally. I stopped reading the book until I found my answer. I wasn't willing. But I was determined to change that. The more I searched for God in the pages of His word, the more willing I became. And now it has become the ONLY desire of my heart to spread the gospel of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Again, literally.
Once I crossed that barrier of the willingness factor, every aspect of my perspective and life view changed. All I want is to know Jesus deeper and to share that with everyone. I got so incredibly excited for the mission that I became restless and eager to leave and begin telling people about our amazing God.
Within just a few days I actually started to become miserable.. WHAT??? I was excited and fired up about Jesus just the other day!? What is going on!?!?! When I realized that my misery was stemming from the realization that I can't leave on missions for quite a while, I felt a little better. But only a little. I was still restless, still kinda bummed. But this morning in my time with Jesus, everything turned around....
In reading Radical, I realized that there is a mission right here in front of me. It is a huge task to take on and I have been wasting my time focusing too far ahead. I was just wishing my time away for the day I get to travel in His name, when He's got something amazing right here in front of me.. check it out:
Matthew 28:19 - Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Make disciples? What? At first when I read that I brushed it off because I assumed that was for the male leaders and deacons of my home church to worry with. Then it dawned on me how very wrong I am! I have been called to make disciples in my time right here. This moment where I am "stuck" (for lack of better words) I am to be bringing people up in the teaching of His word and working to ignite that same fire in them for the command of Jesus to tell others about the gospel. Disciples aren't just men. And making disciples is not just for men. I have been misconstruing this idea, this command of Jesus for my entire life!
WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING?!?! So many disciples to make, so little time! I want to leave on my world race in less than a year. And leave for summer camp in an even shorter time than that. I don't have much time to be making these disciples! Time is of the essence, why am I wasting it?
So that was another thought for the day. Are you making disciples where YOU are?
No comments:
Post a Comment