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Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

You are here: Home / Theology / Show, Go & Tell / When the mission field comes to you

When the mission field comes to you

February 13, 2014 by Lisa Burgess 18 Comments

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when-the-nations-come-go

We’re talking this month about the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20). For some, that means traveling to the nations.

But what about when the nations come to you?

WHO ARE THE NATIONS?
Actually the word “nations” is translated from the Greek word ethnos, meaning: a race, a tribe, foreigners, Gentiles, heathens.

Was Jesus saying they were to tell others who were “not like them” about Him?

Doesn’t He also want us to tell others who are “not like us” about Him? Everyone needs to hear. Everyone needs to tell.

WHERE ARE THE NATIONS?
We don’t have to board a plane to find the nations. We’re with others not like us all the time. We work in the same offices; our kids go to the same schools; we show up at the same sporting events; we may even share the same pew on Sunday mornings.

Our skin color may or may not look different; we may or may not speak the same language; our socioeconomic status may or may not differ.

But if one of us knows Jesus and the other does not, that’s who we’re called to “go” to.

HOW DO I GO?
You’ll go differently in every relationship, but some similarities might include:

  • Go with food

Feed a family. How often do we eat only with our family or best friends? Can we occasionally invite someone different to the table? It’s a great place in every culture to hear others’ hearts and share our own.

  • Go with service

Step outside church walls and see the needs of your community. Volunteer at a non-profit; join a community book club; play on your company’s ball team. While our church families make great company, we’re called to be the light of the world, not just lights in the sanctuary (Matthew 5:14-16). God gets the glory when we reflect Him in the city.

  • Go with money

Give locally. When you can, help the poor among you. My city is blessed with a local ministry similar to World Vision. At Christmas we were able to give a hand-wrapped present face-to-face to the beautiful girl we sponsor when her family came to pick up the box of food that our sponsorship pays for each month.

  • Go with conversation

Talk to the regulars. Who do you see during your weekly routine that you still don’t know? Be intentional about learning names and interests. The grandmother beside you on the bleachers may be desperately lonely for the discussion you can bring. Relationships are built one conversation at a time. What begins with soccer schedules can end up with sharing Jesus.

  • Go with compassion

Educate yourself on cultures. Several Hispanic families speak no English at our local food pantry. With minimal effort, I learned the Spanish words for items they repeatedly ask for. Maybe you could reach neighborhood teens by learning what snacks they like or what movies they watch. Leaning into others’ interests is a great way to care and open avenues for deeper conversations.

BUT AM I QUALIFIED?
Whether God sends you to the nations or sends the nations to you, He’s equipped you to see them, talk to them, give to them. You don’t need an extroverted personality or a degree in Missions or one-way airfare to Africa.

You only need to give what Jesus has given to you:

  • company to the lonely
  • vision to the blind
  • hope to the hurting
  • bread to the hungry
  • grace to the guilty

Regardless of the nations around you— the depressed, the discriminated against, the broken, the confused—this is your mission field.

When the mission field comes to you, show up in it.
Shine the light of Christ on it.
Love like Jesus among it. 

Who is in your mission field in this season?
How can you love them?

Please share in the comments.

Tweetables:

5 ways to “go” when the mission field comes to you http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2Oi Ideas from @LisaNotes at @DoNotDepart Click here to tweet this.

“We’re called to be the light of the world, not just lights in the sanctuary.” http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2Oi @DoNotDepart Click here to tweet this.

Missions, evangelism

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About Lisa Burgess

Lisa looks for God in ordinary people and in everyday moments, then shares where she finds Him on her blog LisaNotes.com. She is a wife to Jeff and a mother to two girls here, one in heaven.

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Use Your Words
All are invited – Isaiah 55:5 {Memory verse}

Comments

  1. mkathoward says

    February 13, 2014 at 8:25 am

    Lisa, thank you for all these great suggestions of how we can share Jesus with the nations right here at home!

    Reply
    • Lisa notes... says

      February 13, 2014 at 11:27 am

      I’m glad God always opens doors for us wherever we go if we’ll keep our eyes open for the opportunities.

      Reply
  2. Floyd says

    February 13, 2014 at 10:54 am

    Great post, Lisa. The one that really captured me for some reason was “go with compassion.” Without that we’re nothing… guess I needed to hear that today.

    Reply
    • Lisa notes... says

      February 13, 2014 at 11:31 am

      You know that “compassion” stuck out the most to me, too, Floyd, since that’s my One Word this year. God is making it pop up in so many places for me these days. He does know what we need to hear for sure. Now I just need to trust His empowerment more to do what He’s showing me….

      Reply
  3. Kristen says

    February 13, 2014 at 11:05 am

    This is a super post! Much to ponder :-) Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lisa notes... says

      February 13, 2014 at 11:31 am

      Thank you, Kristen. We appreciate you stopping in and leaving encouragement.

      Reply
  4. lindseymbell says

    February 13, 2014 at 3:27 pm

    Great tips! Thanks, Lisa!

    Reply
    • Lisa notes... says

      February 13, 2014 at 4:01 pm

      Ironically my “mission field” this week has been extremely small. When snow hits the deep south like it has this week, we all stick around the house. :)

      Reply
  5. Caleb says

    February 13, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    So true Lisa, it seems like everywhere I go in the US there are many people groups all around. Then I hear people getting upset about all the immigrants and I think, why should they be upset that God is sending them the nations, why not just take the opportunity to share God’s love with them instead of making it harder for them to come here?

    Reply
    • Lisa notes... says

      February 13, 2014 at 6:19 pm

      I appreciate hearing your take, Caleb, since you are one that actually goes out and lives among the nations in the world! I’m very thankful we have people like you who can be comfortable spreading Jesus whether here or there.

      Reply
  6. Dianna says

    February 14, 2014 at 7:11 am

    Lisa, thank you for bringing to our attention that Jesus had equipped us with everything we need to share with others. I am currently reading a book that reminds the reader that wherever God has called us and whatever He’s given us to do He has equipped us. I intentionally get in to conversations with the baggers at the supermarket, and last week when I went the second time to a new girl who is doing my hair before I knew it we were in the middle of a conversation about church…where she openly admitted until she was an adult she’d never gone to church. I’m excited to see how Jesus works this one out! :)

    Reply
    • Lisa notes... says

      February 14, 2014 at 5:38 pm

      Sounds like an inspiring book that you’re reading, Dianna. I’d love to be a fly on the wall as you converse with your baggers and beautician. :) I know I could learn much from watching you relate with others. Yes, it will be exciting to see how this turns out!

      Reply
  7. Caroline says

    February 16, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    I’m a little late finally getting to read this, but I LOVE it, Lisa. Thanks for these practical ideas with such encouragement and inspiration. You model this even to your friends on social media, so thank you.

    Reply
    • Lisa notes... says

      February 17, 2014 at 10:40 am

      You are such an encouragement to me, Caroline. Thank you for always being an example of compassion yourself.

      Reply
  8. rachel monger says

    June 18, 2016 at 9:14 am

    So important! We are all called!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      June 18, 2016 at 10:56 am

      I agree, Rachel! We are called and purposed. It’s a beautiful thing.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. A Willing Heart says:
    February 25, 2014 at 9:05 am

    […] own unique role in it. We each have the privilege of showing the world Jesus by our very lives, of going into places of great need to serve, of telling of His great goodness and of His faithfulness in our […]

    Reply
  2. Prayers for a Hurting World says:
    August 2, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    […] are a lot of great ways to be involved locally, donate monetarily, and travel and serve […]

    Reply

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