Devotional Thoughts: Balanced Missions

This is a verse we use for missions. We have the Spirit of God and we are to share who God is with others locally, nationally and internationally. Some ask, “Why are we using our resources to send people so far away when there are people who need to know God right here?” This verse right here! We are to be balanced in our approach to missions. We are to do missions at home and abroad. I recently made a chart of what our people are doing here at home, on our continent and abroad. It’s amazing! To the one who thinks we don’t do enough locally, we are doing more here at home than we are anywhere else.

Our people go on mission and get so excited and passionate about being a part of what God is doing. Sometimes one returns home thinking everyone should do what they did. This is an immature missionary view. One struggle I experience as a missions pastor is to teach that one mission effort isn’t greater than another. Once someone experiences God somewhere, sometimes people start thinking they have been enlightened more than others have and they think others who aren’t involved in that ministry are lacking. They get frustrated.

When we think our ministry is above another we aren’t getting it right. 1 Corinthians 12:12 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”

12:14 “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. “ 12:21 “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

God isn’t calling us all into the exact same thing. Yes we are all called to share the Gospel. I love the excitement when someone experiences praying with someone to become a believer for the first time. It’s contagious! Eyes are opened. All followers are commanded to share the Gospel. Some of us are more front and center than others. Some serve an organization that shares the Gospel behind the scenes.

I’ve learned missions is a form of discipleship for our people Sometimes I even see the mission field does more for us than we do for it. Having the attitude that what God has done in me is greater than what God has done in another is way off base. Everyone should be passionate about what God is doing in their life. I have the challenge of highlighting what God is doing.

This verse should make us passionate about being witnesses for God everywhere. We cannot even do this alone. Having the Holy Spirit in my life is essential. Without God I’m not even on mission. I’m just doing a good work and even an evil person can do a good work every now and again.

Wow, I could write a chapter in a book on this verse! I’ll spare you today and stop right here as I’m also thinking so many other thoughts! Thoughts like, some approach missions with a spirit of paternalism. I could go on and on. So, for today let’s ask how I’m advancing the Gospel here at home, nationally and internationally. Godspeed!