Lately, I’ve been reading “Revival for Mission” by Mark Finley, although I’d been avoiding it for several months. I was afraid of what he would say, what he would point out that I need to change in my life.
Someone recently asked me the question, “If you could choose to be any of the following ages which would it be: 10, 20, 40, or 70?” My initial reaction was 20. I did not have a bad childhood by any means but I like being able to make my own decisions. At 20 I could truly live for myself, no real bills to pay, no husband, my parents were self-sufficient. I didn’t have to “care” about anyone else’s desires but my own. But then something from Mark Finley’s book came to my mind. Several times he brings out what Jesus’ goal is. Does my life goal line up with Jesus’? If we are really His followers and love Him and our fellow humans, why isn’t our goal the salvation of souls? The spreading of the gospel? If that really was my goal then my answer to the age question should have been 10 so I would have even more time to share the gospel instead of simply focusing on what gave me the most perceived benefit.
My friend who asked the question said her answer was 70 because she would be that much closer to being with Jesus. On the surface, it seems like a good answer. We shouldn’t be so enamored with this life. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” – 1 John 2:15-16
But after thinking about what I had read our goal should not be to hurry up and get to Jesus but instead to bring as many people as possible with us. Now hypocrite that I am, I don’t live for others, instead I love to please myself. And while I do not think He asks everyone to jump up and move to Africa as a missionary, He does remind us to pick up our crosses daily and follow Him.
We had a conversation in Sabbath School about witnessing. Darryl said a friend of his once made a deal with God. That He would follow God if God would bring someone into his life each day that He could witness to. I brought forward the point that every day you have the ability to witness. How hard is it to consistently have a Christian attitude to new people who come and go verses the people in your life EVERYDAY? And especially the people in your home.
“Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” Have I ever made God’s mission my TOP priority? Even when I think I’m doing something for someone else am I really doing it for them or just to make me feel good? “Here’s my heart O, take and seal it.” “Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.” Take my heart Lord and teach me to live for your mission and glory. “Streams of mercy, never ceasing…” Even when I’ve neglected His mission and focused on myself He has never left me but throughout the week gently shows me that He is still in charge of my life and that my priorities have been putting the world first. “Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God.” My friends, take time this week to ask yourself what do other people think my priorities are by seeing how I live my life and determine if you need to reevaluate your priorities. Then ask God to help you do so, and I guarantee if you ask in all sincerity He will most certainly guide you.