Chinese Christians inspire me. Their slogan is “Back to Jerusalem,” for the Christian faith spread mostly west from Jerusalem through Europe and northern Africa to the Americas—lands that sent missionaries to Asia. Now Chinese believers aim to spread the gospel through the Middle East until the church reaches Jerusalem, where it all began. The task will be dangerous, but they’re willing to risk everything for Jesus.
God’s people haven’t always had such a vision. God chose Israel to be “a light to the Gentiles,” to “bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). But when Israel entered the Promised Land, they stayed mostly in the hill country. They didn’t conquer the coastal plain where the Philistines had settled. So they couldn’t access the international trade route that went along the flat coast of the Mediterranean, and they didn’t reach their world as God intended.
The early church did better. The disciples obeyed Jesus’ command to be His witnesses, first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, Samaria, and finally “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Paul himself sailed throughout the Roman Empire and may have made it all the way to Spain. But the job isn’t finished.
To what unreached people can you help bring the gospel? It will likely be difficult, requiring much prayer and many resources. If it were easy, we would have done it already. The easily accessible groups have been reached. Who’s up for a challenge?
Think locally. What are the “trade routes” where you live? Where are the opportunities to mingle with others and reach them for Jesus? It can be scary to stand tall for Christ, but it’s the reason God has you where you are. Speak up for Him today by His power.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Ruth 1:1-22
More:
Read Revelation 7:9-17 to learn the goal of our mission in the world.
Next:
What are you doing to reach your world for Jesus? Is this a priority? Why should it be?
Gary Shultz on March 15, 2016 at 6:31 am
Mike, I am guessing many people have similar life patterns. We go to our places of work do many of the same things return home spend a little time there and repeat the cycle. It may seem like a rut, but things change within the ruts, a coworker gets ill, has problems, a birth in family, all sorts of stuff. That’s why I like coming to ODJ it keeps questions coming at you that happen in life. We may not have a large contact base; however I think we can and should be as well versed in the word as possible, when we are confronted with different life situations. Live with wisdom, live with integrity, live with compassion, and live available. Thanks Mike
Mike Wittmer on March 15, 2016 at 8:56 am
You describe life for all of us, Gary. We all have different avenues of influence, but we all have more influence with more people than we know.
gagirllive on March 15, 2016 at 7:50 am
Mike, I have been more deliberate in trying to live my life on mission for the gospel of Jesus Christ, as I believe we are literally running out of time. I find that the opportunities to share with people are all around us if we would stop long enough to listen. Oftentimes, for me it means engaging in conversation long enough to see that open door that the Lord provides. People are searching for something real and solid. We have the answer. Thanks for keeping the challenge before us, Mike. There’s definitely more land to be conquered before our Lord’s return.
Mike Wittmer on March 15, 2016 at 8:59 am
You are right about the stopping part. I need to stop thinking of these things as interruptions in my day and much more as opportunities to love someone for Jesus. There are people in our lives that few people can reach but us. God has brought them into our lives for a reason, and I need to be ready.
sandy229 on March 15, 2016 at 10:07 am
I just pray that I will take the opportunity to share the gospel with someone when I clearly see that they are hungry for God but don’t know what it is they want or need. I know I haven’t done my part in sharing the gospel as much as I should be doing. I know that all I can do is bring people to Jesus or try to. I know its not my job to convict them of sin or transform them into Christians overnight. All I can do is share the gospel with them and pray for the Holy Spirit to convict them. However, bringing them to Christ is all I can do, and to do that I need to share the gospel with them when the opportunity arises. Thanks Mike for this timely devotional.
godlove on March 15, 2016 at 1:35 pm
That makes two of us, I definitely haven’t done half as much as I know I should be doing either. May GOD help us seize the opportunity, whenever it arises, to share the gospel with those in need in our various “trade routes”. It requires courage though, and I pray GOD gives us the necessary courage.
sdwise on March 15, 2016 at 10:26 am
When I read ODJ this morning I realized that most of us have a trade route to witness on most days. In my prayer time yesterday I asked God to show me who He needed to hear about Him and what to say. I was in a store purchasing a gift bag and asked the cashier how she was doing today. Most time people will just exchange the formality by saying fine and you. This lady said not so good. No one else was in line or even in the store so I saw that as an opportunity. I told her I was so sorry and asked what was the problem. The conversation did not take more than 5 minutes and the last thing she said to me was “I do believe.” It always amazes me at how God speaks though us when we yield to His direction to tell someone about Jesus.
Tom Felten on March 15, 2016 at 10:42 am
Mike, it’s so inspiring to see how the church in China continues to grow. It’s been a joy to encourage two young men in my life who happen to be Chinese. One went on a missions trip over his spring break—reaching out to people far from home in the southern US. Aslan is afoot!
jim spillane on March 15, 2016 at 11:44 am
Mike – I think all of us here at the forum realize that trying to “reach (our) world for Jesus” should definitely be a priority in our lives. We know that this was not a suggestion, but a command to “Go.” When Christ said “to all nations,” I think that it’s important to also realize that in our own personal world, a nation can refer to many, a few, or maybe even just one person. Our job is to sow the seeds, someone else may do the watering, and God will do the nurturing.
sandy229 on March 15, 2016 at 12:21 pm
Yes, you are right Jim, that is the “great commission”, a command and not a suggestion. If we love God we will obey Him. Obedience is an outward expression of our love for Him.