The key to the missionary’s message is the propitiation of Christ Jesus— His sacrifice for us that completely satisfied the wrath of God. Look at any other aspect of Christ’s work, whether it is healing, saving, or sanctifying, and you will see that there is nothing limitless about those. But— “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”— that is limitless (John 1:29). The missionary’s message is the limitless importance of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins, and a missionary is someone who is immersed in the truth of that revelation.

The real key to the missionary’s message is the “remissionary” aspect of Christ’s life, not His kindness, His goodness, or even His revealing of the fatherhood of God to us. “. . . repentance and remission of sins should be preached . . . to all nations . . .” (Luke 24:47). The greatest message of limitless importance is that “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins . . . .” The missionary’s message is not nationalistic, favoring nations or individuals; it is “for the whole world.” When the Holy Spirit comes into me, He does not consider my partialities or preferences; He simply brings me into oneness with the Lord Jesus.

A missionary is someone who is bound by marriage to the stated mission and purpose of his Lord and Master. He is not to proclaim his own point of view, but is only to proclaim “the Lamb of God.” It is easier to belong to a faction that simply tells what Jesus Christ has done for me, and easier to become a devotee of divine healing, or of a special type of sanctification, or of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But Paul did not say, “Woe is me if I do not preach what Christ has done for me,” but, “. . . woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). And this is the gospel— “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

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October 15, 2010

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

When I awoke I reached out for God with a prayer for His love, grace and provision and a request that He make me a man after His own heart. For a while I did not feel or hear Him. I wondered where He had gone. Where was the still small voice of comfort and reassurance? And then I started worshipping God and His presence became very clear. He spoke to me and reminded me of the Israelites in the desert for 40 years for a month long journey. Of how they cried out for Egypt and their previous lives as slaves because they could not see their future provision. They did not “see” God and His future promises for provision. Consequently, they wanted to go back to what was familiar even though they would be returning to bondage.

They could recall the miracles of God and the presence of God, but still they were worried and concerned for their future. They did not trust God. They only trusted what they could see, touch and feel. Their senses ruled over their faith. They did not trust His future provision and move ahead in faith, they needed constant reassurance.

I am embarrassed to say that sometimes I feel just like the Israelites. I am full of faith as long as God makes Himself known to me.

And God says…”And so it is when there are pressures and demands of life that you cannot address. You must turn to Me and trust me to deliver you. You can attempt to return to your old ways…….but that is unlikely as I have removed all of your safety nets and self-supporting mechanisms. I have brought you to a place where there is no “going back”. I have brought you to a place where you are dependent on Me and where you must trust Me. I have brought you to a place where you can be conformed and shaped by your circumstances to become transformed into a man after My own heart. Trust Me and rest in my promises.

“But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm” Proverbs 1:33

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9