One of the really great things about joining a mission team is that although we are all at different stages of our Christian lives, we are also all out of our comfort zone, and all "in it together", expecting the unexpected. It is amazing how deep lasting friendships and treasured relationships are built this way, even between people of polar opposite backgrounds.
Facing your fear is transformational.
Luke 5:8-11
8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
North Wales has never been so famous. First a derelict castle gets the Hollywood floodlit facelift, and then the Hollywood actors Ryan and Rob smash their piggybank and buy my beloved Wrexham AFC. (Apparently the clincher was that they got a free Ifor Williams trailor.)
I think the greater story though, is the transformation of the group inside the castle, especially Jordan. Sick with worry on a cliff...
blind panic about the pit, he overcame both. As the group cheered on, Jordan stands a foot taller this morning...at least until he is voted for the next challenge by several million cynical teenagers.
We have fears in the Christian life, some rational, and some irrational. They can be paralysing either way, and we need others to point us to the truth and reality in God and His word. One of the irrational fears we have is that we "won't be any use to God" if we step out in faith. If we are honest we are more ego driven than we think, sometimes more concerned about embarrassing ourselves than letting God down. Another fear I've heard a number of times is... "if you get to know me I would suspect you won't want the real me on your team". This stops some of us ever signing up to something like a mission trip, because we forget that God delights in giving gifts to bless His church, that each one of us has something to offer, that God will help us use His gifts, and that we grow in joy as we descover this. We all have a lot of growth left in us, and mission trips are a great opportunity to do just that.
Our Teams are made up of those who are asking Christ to deal with our fears.
Our personalities, life challenges, and stories of God's help are not only woven into the tapestry of our lives by God (Psalm 31:15, Proverbs 16:33), they are done so that others see this visible evidence of His Glory at work in us. God takes us through things to make us a blessing to others (2 Cor 1:4) in every circumstance (Job 42:2), and in His providence and redemption - everything can become useful. I have never known of anyone on our teams without something in their character that has proved extreemly valuable on a trip.
Our friends in Eastern Ukraine, and Central Asia have many rational reasons to be fearful today, but the more I get to talk to them (every day) the more I realise that they really do trust in God for everything, without reserve, and therefore they are probably less fearful and more confident going forward than me - I have a lot to learn.
One of the beauties about a mission trip in another culture, is that the goalposts are very different. It is interesting how values are changed. Those who have experienced a comfortable lifestyle will be challenged, as they meet those who don't, (and we are the better for it.) Those who have had tough backgrounds, have immediate empathy with those that they meet in need, in fact often they have more to offer than those for whom everything has been put on a plate.
When He called the first disciples ....
"Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Matthew 4:19
The same is true for us as disciples, two dynamics are always at play ... the following and the sending.
FOLLOW ME.
Our willingness to follow depends on our understanding of who it is we follow. The more we know Christ, the more we know we are in safe hands. When we look at His cross and resurrection, the more we understand we have nothing to fear. The resolve of following unconditionally leads to uncontained blesssing.
"Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage."
Psalm 84:5.
The greatest blessing of walking out in faith is that we do not do it in our own strength, and therefore He blesses us with more of his presence and strength. A "bonus ball"...is that we end up doing things we could never do by ourselves, finding gifts we never knew we had.
There are so many verses in the bible about the Joy of God and his presence being our strength. (Neh 8:10),
Our calling is to follow him (which is a secure
proposition of certainty that he is with us.)..but there is also the need to grow in trust as
we develop.
I WILL SEND YOU
Part of the calling of the first disicples was to appreciate that everything would continue to depend on Him, the one who they now found their indentity in. They knew how to catch fish, or at least they thought they did, but being useful in the kingdom of God was an altogether different proposition. I've met TV presenters who find it hard to pray in public, business leaders who struggle to lead church worship. The truth is that as we follow Christ we are all levelled on the same plane, all following, all completely dependent on him.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4)
In this miracle of a innumerable catch, Jesus was teaching them that they could trust him for missional advance, that however deep the waters get, however big and insurmountable the challenge... Christ is able,and will build His church. For the Apostle Paul, his deep waters where in prison but was able to say
"I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
(Phil 4:13)
Next year we need people just like you, to help us share the love and good news of Jesus Christ. Has it occurred to you that you are just the person God has in mind for that mission trip? What would stop you?
In truth, we won't put anything in the way of you coming, but you might stop yourself. Would you at least consider it before God?
DAY 16
- Pray for that there will be some healthy sized mission teams next year (2021) to make up for lost time this year.
- Pray that God will now be preparing us to be useful on those trips.
- Pray that God will help us deal with our fears to be more, and more useful for him.
- Pray that the kingdom of Jesus Christ will grow as a result of those mission trips. Pray that local churches will be fuller and more encouraged, that new churches will be started and people who don't yet know Jesus will come to know him.
- Pray that we will make the most of every opportunity that is given to us. (Eph 5:16),
Praying God will bless you and use you for His glory, as you follow him, and ask him to deal with your fears today, whatever He is calling you to.
With love, BLOGSKI
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