Until All Have Heard
Music. Gas stations. Podcasts. Friends. Just a few things I got to enjoy while making the 15 hour trek across Tennessee and through Arkansas into Texas and then down to Houston. As I set out for this new adventure, I could not help but be filled with every feeling imaginable (maybe just a little bit of an exaggeration, ha). Although, I would say joy, sadness, excitement, fear, anxiety, confidence, and timidity would be just a few. Never in a million years would I have planned or imagined moving to Houston, TX for a year. Yet, what a blessing from the Lord to have such a thrilling and "tip of your toes" adventure planned.Along the way, I chose to listen to an audio book called Hastening: No Place Left, and I would highly recommend it if you have any spare time and want a good story filled with challenges about living on mission. It specifically focuses on the need for taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations and people groups, until all have heard and there is "no place left", just as scripture tells us to do.
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
- Matthew 24:14
So here's a cool God story for you: This fictional team of Christ followers had set out on mission to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to an unreached people group in Asia. During their time there, they spent 3 days fasting and praying, seeking from God how they needed to proceed in ministry and outreach. After the 3 days, they came back together to share what each had learned and heard. One of the guys on the team reported he felt God challenging the team to pray in boldness for all things, specifically for healing the sick, and to not to let fear hold them back (Referencing Matthew 10 and Luke 10 when Jesus is sending out his disciples to go make disciples by preaching the gospel, praying for healing, and casting out demons). As the team began discussing, several of the others reported that was the same scripture that they had been reading and praying on. So, as they set out on mission to do just that, praying for healing and asking the Lord to show up and reveal Himself to the people of different language, beliefs, and backgrounds, He of course did just that. ----
---- So the cool part is, as I entered into Texas, it had me jump on 59S to head toward Houston. I notice it is not as quite the same or as populated as 40W or 30W... meaning, I had no idea what I was about to encounter food, gas, or restroom wise. So I approach a little town, and I think to myself that it might be good to stop, but I check my gas gauge and such and realize that I would be fine for a good while, so there was no reason to stop. However, I felt very strongly (I would now acknowledge it as being the Holy Spirit) that I needed to stop at this particular gas station. I went back and forth on the idea, but could not resist the strong leading. So I stopped. Filled up my car. Went inside to use the bathroom. Walked back out to my car. Then, a notecard on the ground directly behind my car caught my eye. Simply walked past it, but decided to glance down at it, noticing there was a verse on it. Me being me, I just walked past without reading it and started getting into my car. Then immediately felt I had to turn around and look at this notecard. So I did.
It read: 12 "But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” - Matthew 9:12-13
Hmmm. Anyone else notice that "coincidence"? ;)
Just a little extra info on this passage: Jesus went to the home of tax collectors and was eating dinner with the "sinners/unrighteous people" (according to the "rich and righteous ones" in the community). When this was seen by one of the Pharisees (who considered himself righteous and more entitled than the others) he questioned why God would be eating with "those" people. And as you read above, the simple response of, "well, people who aren't sick do not need a physician, but the sick go to the physician." Jesus came for the sinners, not the ones who "have it all together" - which, fun fact, none of us truly have it all together. We are each in desperate need of a Savior/Physician.
Needless to say, this story at the gas station encouraged me. It, yet again, showed me that God is with me on this crazy, scary, and exciting adventure. He wants all people to hear this good news of Jesus Christ. The hope, joy, and freedom we can have in and through Him. It is not exclusive to a particular age, race, gender, ethnicity, culture, religion, etc. Jesus came to hang out with people like you and me, including the ones we think are not like you and me. We are all in need of healing.
One last thought. I want you to know that this vision and mission is not limited to "going on a mission trip" or "being in full-time ministry". Think about this. Every single person you interact with is ministry. Every single place you go is ministry, whether it be work, the grocery store, a coffee shop, the park, a gas station, a restaurant, and the list could go on forever. It is all a mission field. Scripture tell us "I am a sojourner [a person who resides temporarily in a place] on the earth" (Psalm 119:19) and"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20). But many of us do not think of our lives as a "mission trip". Our society has us compartmentalize our lives... and often times our "responsibilities" do not overlap. But why? We do not have to go on some mission trip, serve on leadership in a ministry, be on staff with a church. We simply have to just serve in the areas God has gifted us and has placed us. He has placed us in these places for a reason, and we must see our lives as ministry.
This concept is my biggest prayer for all of us who are followers of Christ. May we truly live mission minded, sharing the love, grace, hope, and truth of Jesus with each and every person we interact with, in whatever way you can or feel led to do so. I know as a social worker, I was not allowed to share the gospel verbally with my kiddos, but no one was able to tell me that I could not love them, extend grace to them, be patient with them, advocate for and support them, encourage them, and more than all of that, PRAY for them. May you not lessen the power of prayer. Prayer fuels everything. Ask the Lord to provide conversations. Ask the Lord to show you how to best do ministry in whatever profession you are in. And also remember, your coworkers are your ministry, as well. Do not let fear stop you (He has given us a spirit of power and authority - 2 Timothy 1:7) because the Lord has GOOD things in store. We've just got to seek Him, pray boldly, and trust Him to change hearts and blow our minds. I continuously ask Him to give me an expectant heart, and I pray the same for you.
“On the field, priorities suddenly become crystal clear. Lostness stares me in the face, hems me in all about. Issues are black and white, life and death. How many of our church squabbles, debates of theology, and worries about politics could be set aside by getting our eyes back on the lost masses? The priority of their eternal destiny trumps all these lesser things.”