This morning I woke up and thought about the first missionaries. Missions has always fascinated me but I have never been a wanderer. I like roots and I like to know where I'm going to sleep. A few years back I began to think about the gospels and the apostles and how they began the road to me hearing the gospel. Have you thought about it? Where did Jesus walk the streets? It wasn't in Germany or the United States. As times have changed the word has spread across the earth but it was the few men Jesus chose that began a process that still remains today.
There are missionaries in parts of this world few would want to live. They live in small villages in Africa and within the boundaries of China. They go where most would not want to be all for the call they heard in their Spirit. They take their families to far away places and are required to learn a new language and love a people they may not even understand. They have been called to spread the gospel far and wide and their work will be known years to come.
The stories that came from men walking with Jesus are with us today. They are written in the gospels and they tell of men that picked up their lives to follow a man. In their Spirits, God called them to walk with His Son and today we have their words to comfort us and inspire us. Their travels were hard and they walked many miles. They left families, possessions and jobs to follow Christ. They ate with the Gentiles and lived with a people they didn't understand. They were called to stand in the gap and their work, along with their words remind us that we are called to spread the word too.
Because I am not a great adventurer, I admired what I read. I took the Gospels one by one, chapter by chapter and realized these men left everything to follow a man. How many of us would do the same? I have questioned myself often and have come to the conclusion that often I am weak but the last year has shown me that the power of the cross is alive and now that we have mass transit, the Internet and Social Media we can spread the word from our living rooms. Interesting?
My call is sitting by this computer and confessing my great love for Jesus Christ. Every day I get on to see what Country has hit this page and I am always amazed. God has brought Russians, Lithuanians, Germans, Swedes and more to this site. I get up and I write and often people find it from opposite ends of the world and once again, I am in awe of my Creator for He continues to do His work through average people like me. Amazing!
I honor those that have gone before me and spread the gospel. They faced much more ridicule and personal danger than I do right now. I live in a free country where I can say and write about a God I love, not everyone has that luxury. There are some that are hidden and can only follow Christ in secret. They are the ones I admire the most. They do the work with bravery and confidence in Christ all I do is believe that Christ will do a great work in me and for others as I write. I'm safe but their not so today, I pray for them and ask you to do the same. These are the people that might share the gospel with a family member, a child or a neighbor. They are the ones taking the chance at losing their lives for the God they love. I continue to pray that I would be so bold and I hope you are too.
As always, you are written on my heart. I can not see you or touch you but I feel your presence as I write and I know that God has a hold on you. May today show you His immense majesty and remind us all that one man has saved many! Thank you to all the men and women who have taken the cross and forged new beginnings in places most of us will never see. Your work is important and your path is clear for Jesus chose you to do a great work.
John 14:6 NKJV:
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Matthew 10:38 NKJV:
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
Mark 1:18 NKJV:
They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, the workers are few. You have given us a call that many put aside. Some though, come to You and ask You where they should go and You direct their paths. They leave countries to travel and to spread Your word. They are put in situations that are harsh and that are not full of the community they have in their own countries. You know their needs Lord and I pray that You would write them on our hearts. You are Majestic, Holy and Magnificent. They honor You by following blindly to places all over the globe. For each man, woman and child that is sacrificing their homelands I ask that You would bless them and bring many to them. You are mighty in all things! I dedicate myself to You and ask that as You come to me, my fingers would tell the great story of one man that chose some to walk with Him and their journey has spread throughout this world. May You come before us Lord and lead us to Your word and to the great commission we have been called too. You are the reason for our lives and for our grace. Come before us now Lord and show us our paths, for You are the Lord of light that guides and loves us. Forgive us of our sins and right our paths as we look for You today! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
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