I’ve answered this question more than any other questions in the past month. It’s been the most frequently asked question and the hardest one to answer. As the question echoes in my head I can’t help but think -- how in the world am I suppose to answer this? My heart desires to pour out everything I saw, felt, touched, heard, and experienced during my time in Japan. How am I suppose to communicate all of this and explain all that God showed me? I became so overwhelmed by the enormity of God’s grace that all answers and explanations fell frustratingly short.
So the answers: “It was great.” “I learned so much!” “I loved it!” seemed to flow from my mouth. But these answers only downplayed Gods goodness and sovereignty. These answers didn’t even begin so touch the surface of Gods glory and excellence that I had the opportunity to witness during my time serving in Japan. It was as if the moment I stepped off the plane, back in Virginia, I entered right back into my comfortable christian life without even knowing it. I don’t need God here like I did in Japan. Most people at least know of Jesus, so I don’t need to share the Gospel with others like I did when I was in Japan. I know the language here, so I don’t need to rely on Jesus for every word that comes out of my mouth.
I used so many excuses as to why it was okay to go back to living in a comfortable world where I only share the Gospel when its convenient. I stopped relying on God and I stopped seeing the need to share Him with others in every situation. But, oh my, how I was wrong...
My heart became so heavy and all I could think was, “How is my life here, a reflection of all that God has (and is doing) done for me and what is stopping me from sharing that with everyone!? Then the question never rang louder
Do I truly believe that the Gospel is the most important thing in my life and the only thing worth sharing with others? And if I do, then some things in my life need some major adjusting. The Gospel isn’t just shared on mission trips or in church -- it’s for everyday use!!
Christ has invited each of us to be apart of a grand global mission! He invites all of us because He loves us, and more than that, He did all this because His heart delights to reveal His goodness and glory through broken people just like us. And the beauty of it, is that it looks different for each and every one of us. But wherever we are in our life -- we are called to make disciples and live a life worthy of the Gospel just like Paul talks about in Philippians chapter 1. Don’t get me wrong here, this is not easy to do.
It takes complete and utter dependence on God. It means relying so much on Jesus that we have to die to our self and allow for His desires to become our own desires. It means trusting that God truly delights in us. It means resting in the grace of God for when we fall short.
I love what Paul writes in Romans 10...
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written,“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15
So dear friends, believing this together, lets go run with those beautiful feet in our jobs, on our campuses, with our friends and families and the person sitting beside us in Starbucks. ;)
