“When you give, you are creating opportunities for people to come and know Jesus… Thank you…
Missions is in part about giving, going, and engaging this world for Jesus… But what drives us in missions is equally important, and effects how we carry the mission and our own spiritual health…
Even for good things need to be done for good reasons…
This life, our lives are not about us but the glory and the praise of God… our missions must be the same…
When we live for Christ and God uses us, and people will rightfully honor that work… but in honoring that work Satan will twist it to become more about us then about the redeeming work of Christ…
God’s glory is not to be shared…
Our affirmation must be found in the reward of the Father, and the words of our God… everything else will leave us empty or leave us open to be manipulated…
Doing the right thing, being on mission, loving those around us… This should be ordinary characterizations of believers lives… this is the expected service of every believer…
Jesus came to serve, how can we be above a life of service…
“Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”
Why does this matter:
– To love, or care for, people detached from the proclamation of the gospel… it becomes only charity, making this finite life more comfortable, but neglecting the proclamation of the gospel… dooming people to an easier life here and an eternity in hell…
– To proclaim the gospel to people apart from love turns the truth cold… makes those without Christ into numbers and projects… arguments to be one… people and cultures to be conquered… it’s a clammy gospel, cold and slimy…
A word… God doesn’t require perfect people to advance His Kingdom, so take heart… in His grace and for our sake God will use both well intentioned misses… There is pride in both, but God loves us enough, and loves others enough, to use us even in our pride…
– But Gods desire in missions is His glory, that all the earth would praise His name, and His glory is best expressed in His love, and the proclamation of His truth… the tension is you must have both… It’s good to have two eyes to see… Two hands to cook… two feet to run… two wings to fly… It’s never one or the other, it’s always both/and…”