To the Ends Of the Earth! - Part 2

As I mentioned in this devotional blog last week, our church is currently in the midst of its annual missions convention. Our theme is, “To the Ends Of the Earth!” Thus far we’ve had missionaries to Cambodia, Mexico, and Northern Asia.  This weekend we will host missionaries to Italy and Belize.  The other night we even “skyped” with a missionary to Bangledesh.  In other words, we are hearing from missionaries from just about every part of the world. (Of course, this year we are missing Africa and the South Pacific.)

Hearing the stories of what God is doing around our world is absolutely incredible.  Even in places wherein we cannot actually send “missionaries,” God is making a way for the gospel to be preached.  People are responding and churches are being established.  And, we are now seeing missionaries going out from countries that at one time were only on the receiving end of missions—e.g. missionaries from Latin America going to the Middle East and missionaries from Asia going to nations in Eurasia that are basically closed to Americans.  God is doing some incredible things in our day. The gospel is going forth “to the ends of the earth!”

Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”  (Matthew 24:14 – NIV) In other words, it has been and still is God’s plan that the gospel message would be brought to all peoples in every corner of the earth.  Thus, he will not allow the end of our world to come about until the mission is accomplished. 

I’m not sure I understand completely what that means. But what I do know is, God is yet calling us to do our part to bring this gospel message to “…Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) He calls us to partner with him in prayer, specifically praying for workers. (Luke 10:2) He calls us to send those whom he raises up. (Romans 10:15)  And, he calls us to give generously towards his work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-15) And, there may be some of us whom he calls to go! 

The question for us today is simply, will we respond?  Will we do our part? Will we pray, send, give, and go?  Let’s accept the challenge to do whatever we must to bring this gospel message “to the ends of the earth!”

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris