MISSION MINDED: Traveling Outside My Box

God continues to be gracious and merciful unto me. I live a comfortable life and try to keep it that way. My life revolves around church, work, home, family, and the occasional movies and dinner with friends. I have enough to live on, although there is always room for better stewardship of my resources.

It’s a comfortable life! Unfortunately, getting comfortable has its drawbacks. I recently heard of a person who believed they had learned all they needed to learn from the scriptures and felt all they needed to do at their stage of the Christian walk was maintain what they’ve learned. Of course, at first, some might agree that sounds good. But, with careful consideration, you realize it’s only justifiable if you’re talking about material things.

Speaking truth to myself is a necessary reality^{[noun, 2.]} because I understand that I am opposed by an uncouth roaring lion looking to wreck my life. I cannot allow myself to get so comfortable in my spiritual life that I leave myself open to becoming a casualty in this spiritual war. Every time I read the bible there are new truths being revealed that I hadn’t grasped before. Comfortability brings about a spiritual laziness that lures one into believing they are giving God their best when, according to the scriptures, even our best is as filthy rags.

The fear of spiritual complacency is one reason I’m using the 52 Weeks of Pursuit bible study by Mark Trotter for this year’s reading through the bible. Every year I look to go deeper into the word to get a better understanding to help me more rightly divide the Word. There is power in the confidence of knowing what you are talking about.

I know fear is not of God, but a healthy reverence for him is a reminder that he is a holy God; there is no other (no matter how many new theories arise — the earth is flat; worship of the created things, I alone am master of my destiny, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera). The thought of missing an opportunity to go ye therefore and teach all nations leaves me with an unpleasant feeling in the pit of my stomach.

If I were willing to remain in this current, comfortable spiritual state, I have no doubt it would render me ineffective for the kingdom of God in many ways. I don’t want to be lured into forgetting that I will stand before God one day to give an account of what I did with his gifts! This is one of the reasons I jumped at the opportunity to take my first Mission’s Trip abroad.

Witnessing the increasing sense of entitlement our society (young and old) exhibits is another thing that spurs me toward mission mindedness. I find it both frightening but biblically anticipated, since we are so full of ourselves that we’ve relegated God to the backseat instead of letting him lead. We are the modern reality and future of Revelation 3:14-22. Pride is the attribute^{[noun, 2.]} that gets us in trouble with God and man, and personally, I don’t need that kind of trouble in my life!

This leads me to the inspiration behind today’s post. When the door was opened in October 2017 for my pastor, Ray Stewart, to embark on an overseas mission trip to Malawi, Africa, I was both excited and scared for him. I prayed earnestly for his safety, Mark Trotter and all who those traveling and working together on this mission trip. Working through the ministry of The Passion Center for Children / Passion Center for Pastors, my pastor proclaimed the gospel in the villages and helped to equip local pastors in their study of Scripture to help them “rightly divide the Word of Truth” and, to stand against Islam/witchcraft.

MALAWI, AFRICA — A place I had never heard of before, and most likely, you either. My pastor shared some of the highlights from his trip with the congregation. We learned of Malawi’s richness, and they are underdeveloped. The statistics were saddening: only 9% of the entire country has electricity and running water; only 20% of children attend secondary school; and, the infant mortality rate is high due to HIV and AIDS. [Read the article on Pastor Ray’s trip by clicking here.]

I was gracefully convicted of my own wasteful and careless spending habits. Becoming a $40 a month donor to the Passion Center for Children was a spiritual no-brainer. Not surprisingly, I haven’t missed a dime of it! In fact, I was blessed instead. As I mentioned in my first post of this year, the excitement and pleasure of meeting and talking with Pastors Mark Trotter and Malawi Pastor Pilira Chibwana was a blessing.

It’s confession time. Since making the decision to join the October mission team this year in Malawi, I have been attacked with fear. My consolation, however, is implementing a lesson I learned to push past the fear. I wrestle control of my heart and mind out of the grip of my flesh (our enemy), and reposition myself back under the control of the Holy Spirit. I never forget to expect spiritual attacks the moment my heart service to the Lord increases.

I’m encouraged to enjoy the comfortable interludes in my spiritual walk with God. But, I don’t want to stay there 20, 30 years. God desires fruit, and my knowledge is increasing on how to be a more profitable sower. I want to bear more fruit. Being mission-minded is another part of the process that will help me do that so I don’t become stagnate in my Christian walk. I am honored for the door God has opened for me to participate as part of the Mission Team. Malawi is a spirit-led open invitation to travel outside my box!

Let the preparations begin!

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