Have you ever been on a mission trip? In just a few days, I’ll be leaving Southeast Asia. We will have the opportunity to support a missionary who has lived there for thirteen years. She has a children’s home where she is mom to over forty children. Our team has been preparing for months. We’ve been getting vaccinations, buying appropriate clothing, planning our games and messages, and just trying to learn the culture so we don’t stick out any more than necessary.
I’ve had some people ask me, “Why are you traveling all that way when there is so much need here?” The answer can be found in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” These were the last recorded words of Jesus. Obviously, if it is the last thing He said to His disciples before departing earth, He felt they were important. If you read Acts 1:9, you learn He was being taken up to heaven as He was saying these things.
Jesus didn’t use the word “or” in Acts 1:8. He didn’t give us the choice between being His witnesses here at home or further out in our nation, but He used the word “and” and He used it four times. We’re to be His witnesses in all places to the very ends of the earth. There is a lot to do in this world. There are a lot of people who need to know Jesus loves them and He died on the cross for them [John 3:16]. There are a lot people who need food to eat and clothes to wear [Matthew 25:35, 42]. Matthew 28:18-20 is referred to as the Great Commission, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘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.’” It is our calling and our responsibility, according to Jesus Himself, to go.
There are many ways to go to the nations. Prayer is one of the ways you can go to the ends of the earth. Operation Prayer is a phenomenal ministry created to help you pray through the nations of the world. If you go to www.operation prayer.com you can subscribe to their sight and they will email you a country a day to pray for, sending you pictures and information about that country. This is just one way to be a witness to the ends of the earth. The opportunities are endless.
Ask Jesus what He would have you do and then do what He says. You may pray for the nations, give financially to short term mission teams, support a fulltime missionary, or support a child through an organization life Compassion International; however, He may call you to travel to a nation on a short term mission trip or call you to live overseas as a fulltime missionary. Only Jesus knows how He is calling you to go to the nations, so ask Him.
Next week is Spring Break for my children, so I will be taking the week off to spend with them prior to my departure. I leave for Southeast Asia the week after spring break. I covet your prayers for me and my team as we go. We will leave on April 10th and return April 24th. I will communicate via the blog as much as possible, however, the posts will be vague in order to protect the missionary we will be serving and short, because they will most likely be sent by my phone.
Take some time today to ask the Lord how He would have you serve in your Jerusalem (home), Judea (community/sphere of influence), Samaria (nation), and the ends of the earth. He is looking for faithful followers to partner with Him is His word [2 Chronicles 16:9]. Will He find one in you?