Be a Missionary Where You Are!

The Great Commision

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” [Matthew 28:16-20]

When most people think of the word "missions" or being a missionary, they automatically have a visual image of a certain type of male or female, and they can visualize that female or male in some distant, third world country, "roughing it ou"t while handing out bibles and spreading the Gospel of Jesus.  We think of individuals making the decision to sacrifice all of the comfort and eminities at our disposal in America, selling all of their possessions, and flying abroad to be "sold out" for Christ amongst the nations.  And for the most part, people's assumptions and visualizations of missions are correct.  The word "mission" did originate "from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad" (to other countries).  And most generally speaking, a missionary is "a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionary]

But in reflecting on Jesus's Great Commision, did you ever realize that you could be a missionary right where you are???!!!  So many of us think that in order for us to do missions work we must give it all up and move elsewhere; but we are already living in a nation that is in serious need of salvation, the love of God, and the need of more laborers. According to the bible, Jesus told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." [Luke 10:2]  Our harvest fields are right where we are!!! And according to His word, we are called to pray for more workers and become workers ourselves!

If you are a mom and wife, your harvest field is your home.  Disciple your children and reflect the image of Christ in your relationship with your husband.  If you are a business woman, your harvest and missions field is your office.  Are you exuding Christ's character while interacting with your boss and collegues, or while going out on sales calls?  If you are a teacher or educator, you are a missionary in the school system.  Be a reflection of Christ's love for us when you are teaching your students.  Be that image of Christ to that tough student that he or she may never see anywhere else.  You may even be a sister or daughter...make your family your mission field.  Be the reflection of that REAL Christian in word and in deed for them. 

Be a missionary in your community...be a missionary when you meet that homeless person on the street...be a missionary when you encounter that embittered cashier in the grocery store...

Do not get me wrong, there is a great need for us believers to continue to answer the call to be a missionary and actually commit our lives (or a season of our lives) to serve others and spread the Gospel in other countries; but everyone is not called to be an overseas missionary.

However, we are ALL called to live our lives reflecting the image of Christ in all that we do. 

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." [Genesis 1:27]

"and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." [Ephesians 4:24]

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" [Philipians 2:5]

"Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him." [Colossians 3:10]

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." [John 13:34]

So whether your mission field is your home, your classroom, your office building, your family, your streets, or your communities...go out each day reflecting the image of God in all that you say and do.  Be that one example of Christ, through love, humiltiy, gentleness, kindness, and forgiveness that the other person may have never seen and may never witness again in their entire lives. 

Work your mission field! 

BE A MISSIONARY WHERE YOU ARE!

"Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people." [Colossians 3:23]

Mad Luv~Teri