The key to the missionary’s work is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs of the lost. We are inclined to look on our Lord as one who assists us in our endeavors for God. Yet our Lord places Himself as the absolute sovereign and supreme Lord over His disciples. He does not say that the lost will never be saved if we don’t go— He simply says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . .” He says, “Go on the basis of the revealed truth of My sovereignty, teaching and preaching out of your living experience of Me.”

“Then the eleven disciples went . . . to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them” (Matthew 28:16). If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him myself. I must take time to worship the One whose name I bear. Jesus says, “Come to Me . . .”— that is the place to meet Jesus— “all you who labor and are heavy laden . . .” (Matthew 11:28)— and how many missionaries are! We completely dismiss these wonderful words of the universal Sovereign of the world, but they are the words of Jesus to His disciples meant for here and now.

“Go therefore . . . .” To “go” simply means to live. Acts 1:8 is the description of how to go. Jesus did not say in this verse, “Go into Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria,” but, “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me in [all these places].” He takes upon Himself the work of sending us.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you . . .” (John 15:7)— that is the way to keep going. Where we are placed is then a matter of indifference to us, because God sovereignly engineers our goings.

“None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . .” (Acts 20:24). That is how to keep going until we are gone from this life.

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October 14, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I read another story this morning about a new believer that had to overcome the impact and reputation of the religious community, (including my own evangelical establishment) in order to become a believer.  He had to get past his view of the polarization, unforgiveness and hypocrisy he saw in us. Now that I think about this, it is exactly what Jesus had to overcome as well. He had to challenge the religious leaders and establishment of His time. When they wanted to stone a woman for sexual impurity, he asked them to look into their own hearts and imperfections. Jesus reached out to everyone, even those that were considered “unclean”. But Lord, in many ways, we still exclude many because of their particular kind of sin or lifestyle. Lord, how can we reach out past our religiosity and actually reach, encourage and include so many that do not know You?

And God says…”As Chambers writes, your mission field is in front of you, right where you live, allowing Jesus to live through you.  And your mission is to allow Jesus to flow through you to others. And remember, who you are speaks much more loudly than what you will say. There is no need to quote scripture, or offer up the four spiritual laws, or a sinner’s prayer. When you let Jesus live through you, His love, complete with knowledge, wisdom, faith, and discipline will flow through you and touch others. When Jesus lives though you, people will follow you, because they are following Jesus. Simply surrender yourself, and Jesus will shine through. When you allow Jesus to live through you, the whole world can see, and hear His life singing. And if you are not quite certain how to do this, simply ask Me to show you.”

Galatians 2:20

The Message (MSG)

^19-21What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.