You are now entering the mission field.
This photo was taken in a church in London. Nice reminder hey? And even more encouraging, it tells us that we are not alone, we are in good company, and we have a purpose in our lives. This sign really got me thinking: where exactly is the mission field? We always think of mission field as overseas or far away places in remote villages where people have not heard of Christ. Well it's true that those places are the mission field, but more and more it occurs to me as long as I step out of my home, my apartment, and my workplace (which happens to be a church and a mission organisation), I am entering the mission field. And the Lord is saying to me, "I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (John 4:35 NIV)."
Lord help me to not only be confined in my own comfort zone, but open my eyes, look at the fields and go to the fields to share your love to those who don't know You!
9 comments:
I believe the mission field is all around us. Location, in my mind is the least important part of the equasion. There's a line on one of our SIM DVD presentations which says 'just because there are needs 'here' does not negate the idea that there are needs overseas'. Needs are EVERYWHERE!
Truly needs are everywhere, but I think the important thing is to be an ambassador of Christ wherever we are. God might call us to be his embassador overseas, God might call us to be his embassador right where we are. We just need to be faithful to God's calling.
I heard a pastor say, "Mission begins two feet in front of your two feet". (Obviously a pre-metric comment)
That's an interesting comment! Although it is quite pre-metric, there is some truth in it I reckon. One has to admit though that in order for that to happen, we need to go OUT of our community and not stay in our comfort zone. Do you agree?
I think mission should happen naturally as we go out into the community in the normal course of our daily lives. God will bring people across our paths to either initiate conversations with or to be available to answer their questions.
The other side of the coin, however, is that mission doesn't start when we leave church. No, the community of God is itself a mission field!
Being in church doesn't make you a Christian in the same way that being in a garage doesn't make you a car. ;)
Thanks for the thought John. When you say 'church', are you referring to the 'building', or the 'people of God'? Anyway, I certainly agree that mission field is everywhere, including where the community of God is.
I guess I mean the gathered people of God - when we say "church is at 10", we mean that the people of God will meet together with him at 10am.
But the original sign was in a church building, so I meant that as well...
yes makes sense John
Post a Comment