Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
I’ve often heard said that the safest place to be is in God’s will. God’s will, however, rarely feels as if it is a safe place. Perhaps it is because it is just that-God’s will, not your own. The name itself encompasses a giving up of control and a deep trust in another’s, a letting go of personal desires in order to pursue His desire. This in and of itself is terrifying. Combined then with the job description Christ gives to a missionary, it is a wonder anyone willingly leaves the home front.
In his book, The Barbarian Way, Erwin McManus describes one who is called to missions as having lost their sanity. And it is a good thing. It is a good thing because it demonstrates a deeper trust in the Creator than in what the world believes brings security; there is a greater love for the Father than for the family, and a clearer vision of eternity than immediacy. Life (as we tend to think of it) must not be sought after-it is imperative that one die to this concept, and in the end, truly live.
I feel that this is a true concept for the entire Christian life, no matter what vocation-as you grow in your faith, the things that you once found “life” in are slowly stripped away, and a greater joy, a greater life is found in Christ. This is the Christian life. Our prayer today, however, focuses on the specific vocation of missions, and just as Christ commanded in Matthew 9:38, so we pray that the Lord of the harvest would send out laborers into His harvest.
pray that we might hear His call
Following Christ’s prayer that laborers might be sent out, Christ commissions his disciples. In Matthew 10:1-4, the disciples were named and given authority to do the work of the Lord. Those He calls, He also equips to do the work of the Lord. Piper warns that one’s calling is never beyond question-you will not find a verse with your name on it and God’s detailed plan for your life, and it is doubtful that He would write your calling on the wall or in the sky.
Instead, we must cultivate a heart that is sensitive to His Spirit, that knows His word (and therefore His heart), and that is faithful with what He entrusts us. A sweet friend of mine often reminded me that if the sheep long to stay near the Shepherd, He will not allow them to stray far. With a heart fully surrendered to the Lord, and a mind saturated with His word, we can then begin to look at ourselves as He’s designed us. What are your spiritual gifts? How has the Lord equipped you? What are you passionate about? Is there a particular group of people you have a heart to reach (nationality, age group, socioeconomic status, etc.)? These are not tell tale signs that this IS God’s will for your life, but it is important to be aware of how the Lord has made you-there is always a purpose! Pray that the Lord would give you insight into your own heart, and that he would open each of our eyes to His will. Pray that we would be sensitive to His calling and to His word.
pray that we might count the cost
Christ gave his disciples instructions before he sent them out. He prepared them for the ministry they were about to undertake, and gave them great insight into what they would encounter, challenges both on a heart level and from others. They would have to rely on the Lord to provide for their physical needs-Christ instructed them to trust Him rather than store up their own provisions for the journey (v. 9-10). They were to risk rejection, and commended to persevere through it (v. 11-15). Interrogations and beatings were to be expected (Christ uses when, not if, in v. 16-19). Betrayal and hatred would be encountered (v. 21-22). The suffering that Christ endured, you are not beyond (v. 24-25). What the disciples were warned of, we also face today.
I have never met a missionary who did not have to rely on the Lord to provide for their needs, nor one who did not face rejection by at least some, if not all, of the people they were ministering to. I have friends who have been interrogated for hours on end, whose homes have been watched by secret police, who have had to flee their cities under cover of night. I have worked with girls who could not disclose their true jobs to their parents for fear of being disowned, or turned in. Others whose parents berate and belittle them for not pursuing a “real” job and success. And more have been killed as they faithfully serve.
Only a fool would enter into missions without first counting the costs: can you imagine arriving at your ministry site and encountering even one of these trials unexpectedly? One would return home in great fear, frustration, having been completely disheartened. Pray that we might have a realistic understanding of what it means to serve in missions. Pray that those God is calling to missions would understand the costs, and would not be paralyzed by the fear.
pray that we might remember the “but…”
“But God” might be my favorite phrase in the entire Bible. Any sentence that begins with this, carries with it a message of hope in spite of circumstance, justice in the face of adversity, and the absolute greatness of God over all things. While this passage does not contain this exact phrase, the concept remains the same. When warned of interrogations, we are also told not to worry, God will give you the words to say (v.19). Christ speaks of God’s care for the sparrows, “but even the hairs on your head are numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows” (v. 29-31).
Just as I have never known a missionary who does not have to trust God to provide, I have never known one who has gone without. And in the end, “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (v. 39). Pray that above all else, we will keep our focus on Who we serve, and that our trust would reside in Him alone. Pray that we would know Him to be greater than the costs, and far more worthy of pursuit than anything this world has to offer.