I once heard a story, told from the pulpit, by a pastor concerning foreign missions. It was aimed at the young people in the church. I do not know if this was a true story or an illustration to make a point. And make a point it does. Seems the pastor poured out his heart about the great need for missionaries, hoping some, in the church he pastored, would make such a commitment. When the invitation was given, no one came forward until, a little later, his own daughter came forward and the pastor asked “Honey, what is it that you want to share?’ She said, “Daddy, I’ll go.” The pastor asked, “What?” Again, she said, “Daddy I’ll go. I’ll be a missionary.” The pastor grabbed her and hugged her and said, “Oh, honey, I didn’t mean you. I didn’t mean you.”
I can relate to that. I knew missionaries were needed and I was happy to see others make that commitment and felt good about their doing so. But in my thinking “I didn’t mean me.”
All my life I have known Matthew 28:18-20 – “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’”
It has been later in my life that I have understood the true meaning of this command.
First, it is a command. It is the last command Jesus gave his followers when He went back to be with the Father.
Second, it is still in effect.
Third, I am to know what Jesus taught.
Fourth, I am to teach everything He has commanded.
Fifth, I am to do that in every place on planet earth.
Sixth, Jesus will be with me as I do this, so no matter what happens to me, Jesus is in control.
My great regret is that it took so many years for me to come to the point of being willing. I have experienced great blessings and am thankful for that but I can only wonder about all I have missed. However, I can’t go back. So, I must, from this point, go forward and go beyond to be in God’s purpose for my life.
God has put a number of examples before me as He, in love, drew me to the place I am today. He is so gracious.
My first “Go Beyond” location was Mexico. I have been involved there for many mission ventures.
I had the opportunity to visit a former pastor and his family in a mission field in Asia.
I know of a couple, who have had a very productive music ministry, who were going into Russia before the Iron Curtain came down.
I know a couple who have served in over 15 different countries.
I know a couple, the husband, a pilot, who took an early retirement, that ministered in Mission Aviation for 21 years in Africa.
And there are more individuals who have made an impact on my life and aided in my growth of a burden and concern to follow Jesus’ command.
And the “icing on the cake” is the Mission Pastor of the church which I attend, who embodies all of this and the impact he is having on me and the church.
My commitment has gone from “I didn’t mean me,” to “please God, make me usable.”
So, as I understand Jesus’ command, whether I am on the other side of the globe or in my home town, I am a missionary. Am I correct about that?
