Mission

From 12/23/2020

““Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:14-20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Mission

I remember when the message of the Gospel first pierced my heart, and I knew that something in me had changed. I could not wait to go and tell others of what had happened.

I remember Resurrection Sunday in 1998, I was working as a Sports News assistant at the Register, and I went to the sports newsroom after church and told all who were there of the glorious thing God had done. The audience was quite crusty, and filled with mockers, but I delivered the message anyway.

Shepherds in the time of Jesus’ birth were the lowest of the low in society. They were addressed by the angels, went and saw, and then went on mission to tell of what God had done. I am sure they were going to people who did not hold them in high regard, I am sure that they were mocked by some, but nothing kept them from sharing the coming of the Savior, God come to dwell with us.

God has put many people on mission, many to go out and tell of what they have seen, to testify of what God has done. I think back to the John the baptist, who was His forerunner, coming to bring the message to make paths straight.

“And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” ’m as the prophet Isaiah said.””
‭‭John‬ ‭1:21-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

John went out and told of soon coming Jesus, and stood for the Gospel, and the values of God before a sinful world. He confronted the leaders, caught up in sin, and ultimately paid with his life. But John succeeded in preparing the way for the Lord.

Then there is the woman at the well, caught up in a life of sin, looked down upon by many, and shamed by society. She encountered eternity at the well, as she met Jesus.

“The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.””
‭‭John‬ ‭4:28-30, 39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Sometimes being on mission means we will be forsaken, persecuted, and ostracized. Let us know that Jesus is the reason for the season, and worthy of bearing anything that can be aimed at us. We live to communicate His glory to a fallen world. We are like the blind man, blind from birth, made to see. Our hearts have been transformed and our hearts opened, and now we see with eyes of faith.

“So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.””
‭‭John‬ ‭9:24-25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now we see. Let us give God the glory.

Brothers and sisters, let us be on mission through this holiday season, and glorify Him day in and day out. May we not let a day pass without telling someone about the true reason for the season. That Jesus was born, lived a sinless life, was rejected, crucified on a cross, buried and rose from the grave, and is coming back soon. It is the whole story of Christmas!

THE PRAYER CHAIR IS OPEN! Send me you requests!

https://www.allaboutgod.com/the-roman-road.htm