As I grew up, I grew in the Lord at a marginally slow pace. My vision of God was blurred by many distractions I had created. The most exciting things in my life were computers, hunting, and studying history. I found that I could easily engage someone in a conversation about those things. I worked hard to learn everything there was to know about certain events in history. I spent many hours of the day on my computer playing games or programming. I spend much effort excelling in these things. If you gave me a chance to lead a conversation I would have talked about one of them. By God’s grace, during those years of my life, I still loved talking about the things of God with other people. Even so, I did not find Christ precious enough to the degree that I would think first to discuss Him above my distractions.
God revealed that while these other interests in my life were good things, I had invested my devotion in them over God. I had made them into Idols, in that I served these things with more devotion than I had God. It was visible to anyone who took a look into my life. If you examined how I spent my money, time, and energy it was apparent that I cared most about these things. While I knew that true happiness was found only in God, I looked to earthly goods to satisfy my spiritual soul, and I was disappointed when every time they increasingly didn’t satisfy. Now I can look back after having tasted the sweet meats of God, and see that there was no way they could ever come close to the joy found in Him.
(Isaiah 55:2)
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
This verse really lays it out. There is amazing truth and wisdom here. If I were starving why would I work hard and then purchase something that would not satisfy my hunger? Why labor hard to find joy in materialistic things that cannot bring true joy? In Jesus is true joy, and serving Him is truly a delight. Time spent in Him nourishes our soul with satisfying meat. I can glorify God in enjoying those things, but if I seek joy in them apart from God I am not giving God the glory He is due.
When God revealed this truth to me, my attitude towards missions changed. I delighted exceedingly more in God, my priorities and focus changed to Him. My heart began to seek to share this joy found in Him with others. He revealed wonderful truths concerning missions to me. He showed me that while He is sovereign in salvation, I am responsible to share the gospel with everyone I can. The awesomeness of missions is that they will succeed. God indeed has sheep that will recognize His voice, and they will come when He calls.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)
9 comments:
hey, good entry this time. I don't know if i agree with everything you said but its backed up well.
I'm enjoying reading these entries of yours, i hope you keep posting while in India that way i know whats all going out there.
later man
Wonderful post Josh. I think I pretty much agree with everything you said, or should I say that I can’t think of anything that I disagree with at this point. In my mind my idea of missions goes something like this. When God calls us to the mission field or to do mission work it’s a calling to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to make his name known in all the earth. Throughout scripture you can find passages that would support this view. I think sometimes as evangelical Christians we think that we are sent or called by God to preach the gospel to win souls for Christ. I don’t think that this view is really scripturally based, but rather we are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to Glorify him in all we do. I think we all would agree that we need to do this in all we do, whether it’s work, play, fellowshipping with other Christians and so on. We then some how put a missionary into a position that is different the what we are all already (or supposed to be) doing. In summery I think that God calls us to proclaim the name of Jesus and to go make disciples not bring more people to him but rather to glorify his name and to worship him. I am not saying that we aren’t a tool that God uses to “win souls” but rather merely the tool that God uses as a result of our call to worship Christ
Wonderful post Josh. I think I pretty much agree with everything you said, or should I say that I can’t think of anything that I disagree with at this point. In my mind my idea of missions goes something like this. When God calls us to the mission field or to do mission work it’s a calling to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to make his name known in all the earth. Throughout scripture you can find passages that would support this view. I think sometimes as evangelical Christians we think that we are sent or called by God to preach the gospel to win souls for Christ. I don’t think that this view is really scripturally based, but rather we are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to Glorify him in all we do. I think we all would agree that we need to do this in all we do, whether it’s work, play, fellowshipping with other Christians and so on. We then some how put a missionary into a position that is different the what we are all already (or supposed to be) doing. In summery I think that God calls us to proclaim the name of Jesus and to go make disciples not bring more people to him but rather to glorify his name and to worship him. I am not saying that we aren’t a tool that God uses to “win souls” but rather merely the tool that God uses as a result of our call to worship Christ
Wonderful post Josh. I think I pretty much agree with everything you said, or should I say that I can’t think of anything that I disagree with at this point. In my mind my idea of missions goes something like this. When God calls us to the mission field or to do mission work it’s a calling to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to make his name known in all the earth. Throughout scripture you can find passages that would support this view. I think sometimes as evangelical Christians we think that we are sent or called by God to preach the gospel to win souls for Christ. I don’t think that this view is really scripturally based, but rather we are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to Glorify him in all we do. I think we all would agree that we need to do this in all we do, whether it’s work, play, fellowshipping with other Christians and so on. We then some how put a missionary into a position that is different the what we are all already (or supposed to be) doing. In summery I think that God calls us to proclaim the name of Jesus and to go make disciples not bring more people to him but rather to glorify his name and to worship him. I am not saying that we aren’t a tool that God uses to “win souls” but rather merely the tool that God uses as a result of our call to worship Christ
Josh, Really enjoyed what you had to say. I think my Sunday School Class is going to get to read this also.
More later
Josh,
Thank you for describing your personal experience in such a way as to ascribe all to God even the purpose of missions being to bring glory to his name.
Below is a url to a message given by John Piper that, I believe further elaborates on what you are setting forth.
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/84/103184.html
A couple of brief quotes being:
"If the pursuit of man's good is not ordered below the pursuit of God's glory in the priorities of the church and the affections of the heart, man will not be well served and God will not be honored."
and
"The most important thing I think pastors can do to arouse and sustain a passion for world evangelization is week in and week out to help their people see the crags and peaks and icy cliffs and snowcapped heights of God's majestic character."
Josh, as you study and pray and contemplate the beautiful truths of the gospel and the attributes of our Great God, visit often those verses and attributes that exalt God in his MAJESTY - for God is clothed in Majesty.
How about some more pictures?
Hey Josh! That was a really aweome post.
I will be praying for you constantly! We all love you! :D
Alyssa
How about another post?
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