When you think of the word “missionary” what comes to mind? For many Christians, it evokes images of someone doing outreach in a poor community overseas or in Africa. It’s also something that we think of as a calling only some Christians have. Missionaries do indeed work in different countries doing outreach. However, we need to understand that the word “missionary” actually has a broader meaning. Did you know that each and every one of us is a missionary? And this leads to the question, “Where is your mission field?”
Matthew 28:80-20 says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This verse which we know as the Great Commission shows us that Jesus has commanded every one of us to go and make disciples. But where is our mission field?
YOUR MISSION FIELD IS RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP
Jesus gave us a strategic plan for how we are to reach the world. Act 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
From this verse, we can clearly see that while God’s heart is to reach the entire world, we need to start right where we are. For some of us, our mission field will start at home and move beyond that to a foreign land. But for others of us, our lifelong mission field will be on our very doorstep!
This is exciting news for us as believers! Every one of us can start reaching out to the people in our neighbourhoods, workplaces and lives.
And to do this effectively we need to invest deeply in our relationship with God and study the bible. We need to build our faith and rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us to boldly share the gospel as He opens opportunities for us.
Let’s ask God to give us a heart that aches for the lost and a willingness to take every opportunity to reach them for Christ!