…among all the nations…(Romans 1:5 – ESV)
The Gospel is for all people (1 John 2:2 / Revelation 7:9), not just Jews but Gentiles as well, not just men but women and children, not just whites, but blacks, browns, yellows, reds and anyone and everyone else who calls on Jesus to save them (Galatians 3:26-28 / Colossians 3:11).
In context this is also Paul telling us that he had received an apostleship that was to be world wide, he knew his mission was to be obedient to the vision no matter what (Acts 20:22-21:14). Paul was to show the crucified with Christ life in all the nations of the known world.
We apply this by saying that through Jesus Christ and only through Him we receive grace for everything we need to be obedient to the faith anywhere and everywhere we go. Our mission is also “world-wide”, we are to live the gospel throughout our world to all the people we encounter or whom see us in action.
Your ministry, no matter how big it gets, will ever have a chance to be as effective, in terms of percentage of people reached, as it is right now. Think about it. If you were on television throughout the whole world, and were able to reach a billion people, how many would actually be tuning in? Even if half of those people watched, which is a near impossibility, this would only represent 50% of the people you could reach being reached with the gospel. However, in your little world, right now, you can live and speak out the gospel to every single person you ever come across – in other words 100% of the people you could reach, you can. There is a lot to be said for that sort of spiritual economy.
People want a big ministry, one that is world wide, but it must start with your own world now. If you are faithful in this world, perhaps God will expand your borders, but how can He trust you with more if you will not be faithful in a little? You must live prophetically, as if your ministry is worldwide right now, because in truth, it is; you never know the reach of God through what you do right here in your little arena.
Every single person who is a Christian has a worldwide ministry, they just need to redefine and clarify in their own minds exactly what that means. What people usually mean by worldwide ministry is worldwide impact, but they define that as worldwide visibility. Tell me where that comes from? Too often we feel like worldwide impact must equal worldwide visibility, but we do not need to be known by the world for God to use our prayers and other things to reach people all over the globe, and for generations to come after we have left this earth.
We have better than worldwide visibility; we have God seeing everything we do, universal visibility, the most important kind, that is why the Apostle Paul told us, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24 – ESV). We also have a promise from God that our service is significant, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
We have better than worldwide visibility; we have God seeing everything we do, universal visibility, the most important kind, that is why the Apostle Paul told us, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24 – ESV). We also have a promise from God that our service is significant, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
3 comments:
Thank You for those words of inspiration.
And yet, while we work in our own personal Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, we can still be agents of redemption to the uttermost ends of the earth. This past Sunday, we made a big deal about praying for the persecuted church. I know that there are people in places I will never see... who covet my prayers. Furthermore, there are brothers and sisters in the Lord, people close to me by association or even from my local congregation, who may be called to serve in a difficult position or even lay down their lives for the sake of the Gospel.
Let us pray for them, but at the same time, we must bloom where we are planted. As we make disciples of ALL nations, that most certainly includes our neck of the woods, even if it is a near-eutopian suburbia.
Craver, indeed, prayer is one way we reach all peoples. I regularly pray for my blogging buddies, whom are all over this country and in many countries around the world, as well as our missionaries (which we all are)...
Every single person who is a Christian has a worldwide ministry, they just need to redefine and clarify in their minds exactly what that means.
What people usually mean by worldwide ministry is worldwide impact, but they define that as worldwide visibility. Tell me where that comes from?
Too often we feel like worldwide impact must equal worldwide visibility, but we do not need to be known by the world for God to use our prayers and other things to reach people all over the globe, and for generastions to come after we have left this earth.
We have better than worldwide visibility, we have God seeing everything we do, universal visibility, the most important kind.
Hmm, excellent, perhaps I will take this , add it, and repost...thanks for the juice, man...as always...
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