OUR HOPE: ON MISSION FOR GOD (Part 2)

‘This I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.’ Lamentations 3:21-23

When we choose to follow Christ, we make choices. Those choices include how, when, where, and to whom we take His ministry. It is His mission, not ours.  It’s our responsibility to simply follow His leading. He will equip us, He will use us, and He will accomplish His purposes.  When we accept the mission we are called to, then we are indeed on the mission.

The mission trip in Ecuador was God’s mission.  We were all called. We didn’t just get up one morning and say, “Think I’ll go to Ecuador today.”  No, it’s not that simple. It begins in the vision God places in someone’s mind, heart, soul.  God fuels it, until it becomes evident that this is God’s plan. Our missionary had such a vision. He follows God and will drop everything when God tells him to. He will pursue God’s heart relentlessly. He won’t back down, nor will he falter. He moves as God directs; that is how the vision becomes an earthly reality.

We had a schedule. Our associate pastor gave it to us. It was a comfort to know what we would be doing day after day. But it kept changing. We would have it in our heads that we would be there 2 days, and over here for the next 2. Dinner was at 5.  And we would have plenty of time to sleep as well. But things are not always what they seem to be. And in this case, they really were not! God kept telling our missionary, “Be ready.” Our schedule was revised several times over the months of preparation. The final draft was not final.  God ordered our steps, literally.

Our missionary warned our pastor that God’s plans take precedence over our plans. He knew what he was hoping our team would accomplish at his ministry’s camp in the rain forest. But he is a wise enough man to know and understood how God works. He wants our total surrender. In all things. Even in mission trips. His plans will replace ours at any given moment. Our position is to be willing and ready to be flexible, to move when and where He tells us to. To encounter people, places, and things that may not be what we are used to, what we are comfortable with. In fact, God will move us away from our comfort zones into the unknown, so we will stretch, grow, and learn from the experiences He puts in front of us.

When He calls you, go. Experience missions. You need not be in another country. Just be willing. Be surrendered. Remember, when you wake in the morning until you close your eyes at night, you are truly on mission for God. He is Our Hope, and He is faithful indeed!

‘Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.’ Hebrews 13:16

Blessings!‎