Tag: missionaries

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Luke Devotionals

What God desires

Luke

Years ago, I read a book called “Shadow of the Almighty” which recorded many of the thoughts of a missionary named Jim Elliot.

It was probably one of the most influential books I have ever read in my life and has shaped my thinking in so many ways over the years.

As I read today’s passage about Mary and Martha, I thought once again of something that Elliot said that impacted me then and impacts me to this day.

How well I see now that He is wanting to do something in me!

So many missionaries, intent on doing something, forget that His main work is to make something of them, not just to do a work by their stiff and bungling fingers.

In short, God is not so interested in what I can do. He is interested in me.

So often we forget that. We think we have to impress him by what we do.

But while certainly God desires to work through us, let us never forget that he is more interested in us than what he can do through us.

And so I pray with Elliot,

Teach me, Lord Jesus, to live simply and love purely, like a child, and to know that You are unchanged in Your attitudes and actions toward me.

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3 John

Walking in truth and love (part 2)

Support our missionaries

As we look at 3 John, we see many of the same themes that we see in 2 John, and for that matter in 1 John: those of truth and love.

Here, though, we have a very practical application of these things: the support of missionaries and other ministers of the gospel.

As we saw in John’s last letter, there were many traveling teachers who went from church to church, missionaries if you will.

They seemed to be not only going to the churches, but preaching to unbelievers as well, as John makes specific note that they received no support from the “pagans.” (7)

Because these missionaries were doing this service for the sake of Christ, John encouraged Gaius, the recipient of this letter, and apparently a leader in the church, to support such people in giving them a place to stay, and providing food, drink, and other needs that they might have.

(This is in sharp contrast to what John told the church in 2 John 1:10 concerning false teachers).

Many Christians don’t think of this, but by supporting missionaries, we are walking in truth and love.

We walk in truth in that we support the spread of it to those around us. And we walk in love by helping those who preach it.

In doing so, not only are we showing love to those missionaries, but love for those they take the gospel to.

Unfortunately, a man named Diotrephes refused to do this. He was another leader in the church, but instead of living a life of truth and love, he lived only for himself.

John said that he loved to be first (9) and would have nothing to do with the leaders of the church and those missionaries who spread the gospel.

Instead, he spread gossip about them. More, he threw people out of the church who tried to support the missionaries that had come to them. (10)

In short, out of his pride, Diotrephes told his congregation, “I don’t recognize these people, and neither should you.”

Unfortunately, there are pastors like this. Because they are so concerned about their own position, they refuse to work with anyone else outside their own organization.

What’s even worse is when they refuse to accept any authority besides themselves because of their pride.

But John tells Gaius,

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. (3 John 11)

In other words, “Don’t be like Diotrephes, Gaius. Walk in truth and love as we do and as you have been doing until now.”

How about you? Do you support the truth and those who preach it with your finances? Do you support your pastor? Do you support the missionaries you know?

Do you seek to bless such people who are working for the name of Christ?

Or do you instead snipe at them from behind?

This world needs Jesus. But they will never find him if we are not walking in truth and love. And one big way to do that is to support those spreading the gospel.

Are you?

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Colossians

Praying behind the front lines

Colossians

I wonder if we understand just how important our prayers are behind the front lines.

There are so many people, pastors and missionaries especially, who are out there on the front lines. Yet many times, we act as if they don’t need our prayers.

They are by definition, after all, “spiritual,” right?

But it is these very people on the front lines that need our prayer the most. Paul certainly recognized his need for others’ prayers. And so he told the Colossians,

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2)

The idea of “devote” is to be persistent, to hold fast and not let go. In short, don’t just blow off a quick prayer and go on your merry way. Truly engage with God in prayer.

Paul says to be watchful.

Watch for what God’s trying to do around you and ask him how to pray in the midst of what he’s doing.

Remember also to have a thankful heart. Don’t just make your prayers a “give me” list. But make it a time to remember God’s goodness in your life and draw near to him.

But Paul then gives specifics on the kinds of things people on the front lines need prayer for.

They need prayer that God would open up doors of opportunity to preach the gospel.

And they need prayer that God would give them the words so that people can clearly understand the gospel.

One would think, “Just preach the gospel. What’s so difficult about that?”

But while the gospel message remains the same, they still need wisdom on exactly what words need to be said to break through whatever blinders Satan has put on unbelievers.

So as you think of the missionaries and pastors you know, pray for these things. They need your spiritual support.

And let them know you are praying for them as well. It’s always encouraging to know you’re not fighting alone, but that you have people behind the lines supporting you.