"Honey, please clean the dishes."
"Mom, do I have to? You know I have tons of homework!"
Obedience often travels with grunts and groans rather than exuberance and enthusiasm. It seems as though our parents’ orders catalyze a plethora of excuses as to why we cannot complete the given task. Many Christians act the same way towards God’s calling. When He asks them to travel to foreign countries, many reply, “But God, I don’t have the money. Plus, their water is not safe! Do you have any idea what kinds of diseases I could catch? I might even die.” In essence, selfish desires hinder Godly calling.
Serving God brings joy; we love Him so much that the privilege to obey comes as a delight rather than a burden. Fortunately, God gives us this opportunity every day. Last week, I sat in a school computer lab, discussing drugs with a fellow student. He informed me of his drinking habits and explained that alcohol makes him feel “free.” During this conversation, he gave off an apathetic attitude towards the consequences of this deadly indulgence. He stated, “I’m going to die anyway. Why does the cause matter?”
After years of hard-hearted judgment towards drug addicts and the “worldly” members of my school and community, this conversation revolutionized my mind set. Why do people use drugs and hurt themselves in acts that we do not understand? They are broken people, completely blind to the joy and fulfillment in knowing the Savior. Yes, overseas missions is extremely vital in the body of Christ. People in other countries often live with false teachings and spiritually bare lifestyles. However, several believers fail to see the reality of life in America: our culture reeks of misconceptions. God has conveniently placed the mission field in our everyday lives. Those hurting people are students, teachers and administrators, and fill every classroom in the school building. Reaching out in love is not always easy, I know, but a listening ear and a prayerful heart just might do the trick.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, NIV).
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV).
"Mom, do I have to? You know I have tons of homework!"
Obedience often travels with grunts and groans rather than exuberance and enthusiasm. It seems as though our parents’ orders catalyze a plethora of excuses as to why we cannot complete the given task. Many Christians act the same way towards God’s calling. When He asks them to travel to foreign countries, many reply, “But God, I don’t have the money. Plus, their water is not safe! Do you have any idea what kinds of diseases I could catch? I might even die.” In essence, selfish desires hinder Godly calling.
Serving God brings joy; we love Him so much that the privilege to obey comes as a delight rather than a burden. Fortunately, God gives us this opportunity every day. Last week, I sat in a school computer lab, discussing drugs with a fellow student. He informed me of his drinking habits and explained that alcohol makes him feel “free.” During this conversation, he gave off an apathetic attitude towards the consequences of this deadly indulgence. He stated, “I’m going to die anyway. Why does the cause matter?”
After years of hard-hearted judgment towards drug addicts and the “worldly” members of my school and community, this conversation revolutionized my mind set. Why do people use drugs and hurt themselves in acts that we do not understand? They are broken people, completely blind to the joy and fulfillment in knowing the Savior. Yes, overseas missions is extremely vital in the body of Christ. People in other countries often live with false teachings and spiritually bare lifestyles. However, several believers fail to see the reality of life in America: our culture reeks of misconceptions. God has conveniently placed the mission field in our everyday lives. Those hurting people are students, teachers and administrators, and fill every classroom in the school building. Reaching out in love is not always easy, I know, but a listening ear and a prayerful heart just might do the trick.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, NIV).
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV).
