Here is what God has been teaching me lately.
Thought: Jesus was the first missionary.
Who was the first person to leave their native land for the sake of saving the world? Jesus, right?! Jesus left the luxury of haven to save the world. Therefore, as missionaries, we should seek to model the best missionary ever, Jesus.
Thought: Jesus’s only motivation for missions was love.
As believers we are all called to be missionaries. What is our motivation for our mission field? Some enter their mission field wanting to satisfy an adventuresome spirit within them while others, in pride, want to make a name for themselves. The correct motivation for missions is love. For God so loved the world that He sent Jesus. Jesus so loved the world that He went. We so love our Heavenly Father that we walk in obedience to His voice. We so love the world that we lay our lives down so that others may be saved.
As believers we are all called to be missionaries. What is our motivation for our mission field? Some enter their mission field wanting to satisfy an adventuresome spirit within them while others, in pride, want to make a name for themselves. The correct motivation for missions is love. For God so loved the world that He sent Jesus. Jesus so loved the world that He went. We so love our Heavenly Father that we walk in obedience to His voice. We so love the world that we lay our lives down so that others may be saved.
Question: What was one of Jesus’s methods as a missionary?
There were many methods Jesus had in missions. One method that has ministered to me lately was His incarnation. Jesus became like those whom He sought to save. Can you imagine the commissioning ceremony in Heaven as the Son of God took off his royal crown and laid it at His Father’s feet. All of Heaven must have stood still in amazement as they witnessed the Son of God empty Himself of all His royal privileges and leave behind all the comforts of Heaven to become like those He sought to save. Think about this, the first man to see the Son of God, saw Him completely naked! Jesus entered His mission field through the birth canal of Mary. What humility! What love!
There were many methods Jesus had in missions. One method that has ministered to me lately was His incarnation. Jesus became like those whom He sought to save. Can you imagine the commissioning ceremony in Heaven as the Son of God took off his royal crown and laid it at His Father’s feet. All of Heaven must have stood still in amazement as they witnessed the Son of God empty Himself of all His royal privileges and leave behind all the comforts of Heaven to become like those He sought to save. Think about this, the first man to see the Son of God, saw Him completely naked! Jesus entered His mission field through the birth canal of Mary. What humility! What love!
Question: What would have happened if Jesus chose not to leave behind the luxuries of Heaven when He entered His mission field?
Recently, Kim Smith (our partner in Africa) decided to take to Liberia a battery powered drill. In Liberia, door hardware is made very cheaply, therefore, things like hinges break easily. Kim wanted to be able to securely fasten the doors to our house in such a way that the hinges could be easily replaced if they broke. That is why he brought his battery powered drill. When the Liberians saw what the drill could do, they spontaneously began laughing and cheering. Their minds could not fathom something so small having such great power. While cheering, they began chanting, "U.S.A. U.S.A." and they said, “the white man can do anything.” Question: What would have happened if Jesus chose to bring one connivence from Heaven to Earth when He came? I think we would have followed Jesus because of the gadget He brought from Heaven but not because of our love for Him. We, like the Liberians would begin cheering, “H.E.A.V.E.N. H.E.A.V.E.N” rather than cheering, “J.E.S.U.S J.E.S.U.S.” As missionaries, we must model Jesus and become like those we seek to save. The reason we want to live among the Liberian and live like the Liberian is because we don’t want the Liberians to chant, “U.S.A. U.S.A.” nor to say, “the white man can do anything.” We desire Liberians to chant, “J.E.S.U.S! J.E.S.U.S!” and say, “Jesus can do anything!”
Scripture to consider:
Philippians 2:5-8
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but make himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross."
Recently, Kim Smith (our partner in Africa) decided to take to Liberia a battery powered drill. In Liberia, door hardware is made very cheaply, therefore, things like hinges break easily. Kim wanted to be able to securely fasten the doors to our house in such a way that the hinges could be easily replaced if they broke. That is why he brought his battery powered drill. When the Liberians saw what the drill could do, they spontaneously began laughing and cheering. Their minds could not fathom something so small having such great power. While cheering, they began chanting, "U.S.A. U.S.A." and they said, “the white man can do anything.” Question: What would have happened if Jesus chose to bring one connivence from Heaven to Earth when He came? I think we would have followed Jesus because of the gadget He brought from Heaven but not because of our love for Him. We, like the Liberians would begin cheering, “H.E.A.V.E.N. H.E.A.V.E.N” rather than cheering, “J.E.S.U.S J.E.S.U.S.” As missionaries, we must model Jesus and become like those we seek to save. The reason we want to live among the Liberian and live like the Liberian is because we don’t want the Liberians to chant, “U.S.A. U.S.A.” nor to say, “the white man can do anything.” We desire Liberians to chant, “J.E.S.U.S! J.E.S.U.S!” and say, “Jesus can do anything!”
Scripture to consider:
Philippians 2:5-8
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but make himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross."
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