date : 29 April 2013

God Calling

We are called to get active, get moving, get going into all the world. Have you concerned yourself more with staying, building and protecting?

It all begins with God.
God's heart is for people. He is inclusive, deeply desiring more to know and worship Him. He wants all to hear and to know of His goodness. Since the beginning of creation, God has been sending people out to the corners of the earth -- "to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth" (Gen. 1:26). He raised up Israel as a beacon in the desert, calling people to the glory of God (Deut. 4:5-8). In Jesus, God reveals His deep love for all of mankind. In Revelation heaven is described as being filled with people from every tribe, tongue and nation and trees with “leaves...for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22:2). Missions begins with God's beating heart of love for the nations.

See what God sees.
When we begin to love what God loves - the nations - we will see the world from His perspective. Jesus saw the crowds and "had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matt. 9:36). Jesus sees that people need a shepherd... someone to bring hope and help. He also sees that there are only a few that have responded to His heart and to the need. That is why He asks us to pray for more workers in His harvest field.

Go into all the world.
How can you respond to God's desire for more people to go? He says, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15). We are called to get active, get moving, get going into all the world. Have you concerned yourself more with staying, building and protecting? Jesus' mandate is to go into all the world. He is a God of action. He does not just feel love for nations. He goes to them. He will go to them through you.

God can use you.
In light of the great need in the world and the mandate of Jesus to go everywhere and preach the Gospel, what can you really do? Is the calling into missions for those special few on the fringe of the church? Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:19 to "go and make disciples of all nations." In other words, we are called to preach the Gospel in all spheres of society -- discipling people to follow Jesus in education, business, government, family and more. How has God made you? What interests and abilities has he given you? He made you that way to bring Him glory by including more people into His kingdom. Your gifts were never meant to hoarded but given to the harassed and helpless. God has given you so much. He wants to use you!

Take the next step.
What has God put in your hands? What gifts have you been given? Where is the need? Look with God's eyes at the nations around you. As you look, ask the Spirit where you can get involved. He will use you if you ask, and if you are willing to go. There is not a lack of need or a lack of gifting to meet that need. But, there is a lack of willingness. The question is not where to go or what to do. But first, are you willing to lay your life direction and gifts at His feet? From there, respond to the voice of God and take the next step into the harvest field. God and the nations are waiting on you.

Will you pick up?
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