I have always feared being called to be a missionary or even worse, a street corner preacher. Before you get mad, I am NOT saying there is anything wrong with either of these…I believe both are called and used by God. I was simply afraid it would be me!
All of my life as a Christian I had shrugged off any sermons, lessons, etc. that attempted to teach me that I was supposed to actively share my faith. Whenever questioned about it directly, I always answered that I did not have the “gift of evangelism.”
I would go on to say that I would live my life by silent example – that would be my witness to those around me. I felt that got me off the hook from having to go door to door or street corner to street corner, preaching Jesus.
This response worked for many years. I say it worked because I was never forced to go door to door and I never really felt guilty about it!
In my last post, I explained briefly about the small group discipleship study, Impact Discipleship, through which God worked to radically change the rest of my life. While we are all products of the various influences and decisions in our lives, this one discipleship program stands out head and shoulders above the rest in my life.
“God wants, and expects, my entire life to be given over to Him”
It was in this study that I learned God wants, and expects, my entire life to be given over to Him. Looking back today, this seems too simple and obvious, but at the time, it was revolutionary to me. I had always kept God in a nice, tight package…He was part of my life, but only that – just a part. When I found out that I was to open up to Him every crack and crevice and every room of this house I call my life, it rocked me.
It was also in this study that I learned my lame excuse was not working with God. I came to find out, directly from the Scripture, that all believers are commanded to go and make disciples, to be Jesus’ witnesses to the world. Different Christians have different gifts to be used in following this command.
There are also different callings to various places, methods, or ministries within the church or in the world. Regardless of gift or calling, we are all commanded to go. Based on what I have read, my claim that I was exempt from the command to go and make disciples was simply wrong.
Read the following from the Bible and see what you think…
Do you read the same thing I do?
If you agree, how do you live this out?
What obstacles have you encountered?
Photo by grinvalds / iStock
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