On A Mission

Go Into All The World

I’ve never had the opportunity to participate in a missionary trip to another country even though I’ve had a desire to do so for quite some time. Missionaries are amazing people who travel to sometimes distant lands, countries, and continents to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people who many times have not heard of Jesus Christ. They leave behind the comforts and conveniences of their homes and journey to environments that can be challenging and even harsh. I’ve heard of several accounts of missionaries being tortured and even killed while doing the service of the Lord. In spite of the very real possibility of loss of life, true missionaries allow their deep convictions and beliefs in the Gospel to propel them forward to complete the mission. Only those anointed and called to this office should pursue it because the sacrifices can be high.

Oh yes, the sacrifices of foreign, and even domestic, missionaries are high. However, have you ever stopped and thought about how the sacrifices of missionaries echo the sacrifices of the Greatest Missionary of all? Missionaries willingly leave their families, comfortable homes, and secure, stable lives to go into unknown and even hostile conditions. This is no small feat. Many of us have a hard time giving up even the smallest comforts of life. But these missionaries are committed and dedicated and are willing to endure significant hardships for the sake of the Gospel. They exhibit courage, faith, and a deep love for those who are lost. Jesus, in the ultimate act of love and service, left the comfort and glory of Heaven to evangelize on Earth. He gave up the Presence of His Father to save us. His missionary trip was the ultimate sacrifice because just like the missionaries, He has a deep love for the lost. His desire is for us all to be saved.

The life of a missionary is indeed one of sacrifice; however, it is also one of profound joy and fulfillment. Missionaries get to witness firsthand the transformative power of the Gospel in the lives of those they serve. When someone accepts the message of Jesus and decides to follow Him, it is a moment of celebration—evidence of the fruit of their labor. Jesus Himself spoke of the reward awaiting those who sacrifice for His sake. In Mark 10:29-30, He said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for My sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life."

Jesus' mission on earth was filled with both challenges and triumphs as well. He experienced hunger, pain, loneliness, anger, and rejection. Jesus’ missionary work is an example of self-denial and sacrifice, but it is also one of great reward. Jesus’ sacrifice offered salvation to anyone who believed then and believes today. It is the greatest reward. Missionaries may not have the comforts of home, but they have the assurance that their work is making an eternal difference by introducing others to this Greatest Reward.

When we think about the sacrifices missionaries make, we should think of the incredible love that Jesus showed when He came to Earth. He gave up everything for us—His position in Heaven, His comfort, and ultimately His life—so that we could be reconciled to God. In John 20:21, after His resurrection, Jesus said to His disciples, "As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you." This is the call that every missionary answers, following in the footsteps of the One who gave everything so that we might live. Is He calling you today?

As we pray for and support missionaries around the world, let us also remember that we are all called to be part of this mission. We may not all be called to distant lands, but we can each share the love of Christ in our own families and communities, sacrificing our own comfort to bring the hope of the Gospel to those around us. Just as Jesus did, just as the missionaries do, we too can live lives of service and love, trusting that our sacrifices will bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. Let us all commit to be Fruit Bearers for the Kingdom and let us all become concerned about souls near and far.

Thank you for spending time with me today. Please share with anyone who may benefit from the content.

In the service of Him,

Cynthia