Lessons from a Lost dog: Missions

Continuing a series on Lessons i learned from a Lost dog [Puppy post #1]

So we arrived at the airport with our dog in tow. We were pretty worried about her and so quickly went to the baggage claim and asked about our dog.

We came to the desk and they were like “uh… oh, it’s your dog… well she got out of her cage and when we opened the door she ran out”

 

I offered to go out and call her, but they brushed me aside and told us not to worry and assured us they would get her back quickly.

After 15 minutes or so, one person came back and wrapped a yellow vest around me and walked me over to the door.

They told me to wait a moment and a few minutes later they walked me back to where we came from – and then told me again I could not go out to look for the dog.

They reasoned with us.

It is too dangerous out there. There are many vehicles and machines and it is too dangerous.

Plus it is too dark out right now. Which makes it more dangerous. It is too dark to look for her and find her. It is too dark for other people or vehicles to see you.

It is too difficult. We won’t find her. And the place is too big, she could be anywhere.

In other word they said the task was

1.     Too Dangerous

2.     Too Dark

3.     Too Difficult

4.     Too Daunting

Isn’t this what is said about finding the lost in missions. Aren’t these the same excuses?

It’s too dangerous to go overseas. What if your children get sick? What if you face persecution? What if you go to jail?

It’s too Dark.

The people there are so entrenched in their religion. They are so caught up in their ways

It’s Too Difficult

You have to learn the language- and the culture. You have to fight years of oppression and custom. It will be difficult to explain. You have to give up so much – food, friends, fun, conveniences, comforts… too difficult

It’s too Daunting.

There’s just so many people, what difference can we actually make?

When they told me I couldn’t go out to look for my puppy, I didn’t care about their reasons.

I didn’t care at all. Not one bit.

The only thing that mattered was finding my puppty

I didn’t care how dark it was, I was up for the challenge and energy it would require.

I didn’t care how daunting it looked, I would take however long it needed.

I didn’t care how difficult it would be, I just wanted my puppy

And danger? Well, I wanted to be careful but I was willing to risk potential problems for the joy of finding our puppy.

And if I would go that extent for a puppy, how much more can we for the lost souls around us.

God’s love for the lost is so much greater than my love for my puppy- as hard as that may seem.

And the thing is…

Too Dark? No problem, Jesus is the Light of the world.

Too Dangerous?  Jesus is with us always  (and God is a strongtower we can run to and be safe, he will take care of us)

Too Difficult? Jesus has given us His Holy Spirit to empower us

Too Daunting? Jesus overcame even death. Nothing is impossible with God.

The thing about holiness

A few years ago when my friends blogged a lot, someone once wrote “Being a Christian doesn’t mean we have to be weird”

I’ve been thinking about that… and… I disagree.

You know, I used to love the stories how teenagers discovered that Church/youth groups/college groups were actually fun. It wasn’t weird at all.

In fact, I had that experience in college. It really helped me to see normal fun people in a group, and God used that to grow me.

But,… should this be our goal?

To be normal? To be fun? To be liked? To be accepted?

When I was at Michigan there was an article in the school paper about how Christians wanted to be accepted on campus.

It made me uneasy. We’re not looking for acceptance. We’re already accepted by God thru Christ. And if we’re going to follow Christ, He promises rejection and suffering. He suffered rejection and no servant is better than His master. If we are to follow Christ, we will be rejected.

But in our pursuits to be normal, aren’t we just fleeing rejection?

We are called to be holy as God is holy.

What does holy mean?

To be set apart.

To be set apart. To be other than. To be different.

What makes God Holy? He is different than the world. He acts in ways contrary to the world. He is pure & righteouess- not selfish & corrupted.

And if we are to be like God, we’ll be different than the world. And if we’re different than the world – isn’t that weird?

Isn’t this a small price to pay?

So, people think I’m strange. They don’t understand me. They don’t understand my choices.

If we are to be like God and be holy amongst a sinful, unholy world- we will be different. And some may feel uncomfortable. Many may make fun of us. We will be different.

We can’t be holy and be like the world.

My highest calling

When Soo & I were about to get married, we met with the Main Pastor. We were having a nice time, til he said something about young couples these days. He said it was a shame how many men put their wives above their ministry.

I tried to understood what he meant… but maybe that is just what he meant…

I couldn’t believe it. I was dumbfounded really.

My wife & kids will always be my highest priority. They will be & are my most important relationships and my most important ministry.

As we follow Christ, there is no higher calling than to be a husband & father (wife/mother).

Of course, i am called to follow Christ above all things. And i do all to the glory of God. 

The first & most important way i do that is in how i lead & love my family.

Paul tells Timothy, first watch over your own family, then the flock.

IF an elder can’t lead his own home, how can he lead the church.

Simply, these are the people I spend the most time with and the people I can have the most influence on.

I don’t disciple my wife or kids. I do shepherd them & lead them though. I point them to Christ. I lead us in devotionals. I love them and I love on them. I make it my aim to reflect Christ

There is nothing more important.

The one with a call

When you hear the word “Calling” what do you think of?

If you’re like most, you’re thinking of a special calling and/or vocation and the rest of your life.

We think what is God’s will for my life. We want to know God’s will, and do everything to discern it. When instead of trying to know God’s will, we should be simply seeking to know God.

While I believe God has a specific call on our lives, I think we get lost in a similar vain.

There is a specific call… and there is a general call. And if we considered the general call, the specific call would be easier to discern.

When we think of being called, what do we want to hear?

Maybe- where? When? How long? What will I do? What are the benefits?

Hey when a friend calls us to hang out or go to a party for a couple hours, we ask a lot of questions.

What should I wear- is it casual, semi-casual?

How long we gonna be out? When will we come back?

What are we gonna do? What are you gonna watch?

Who’s going to be there?

So, when we’re called for a lifetime, of course we’ll have questions.

In Matthew 9:9 Jesus calls Matthew.

What does He say?

Nothing.

If you’re Matthew, what would you be thinking? What would you do?

I’d be asking questions.

My friend Jason said “I’d be thinking Who are you?”

And that’s actually the key question.

See, when I’m called to hang out, the person asking the question makes a big difference. IF I’m called by my boss to work I may not want to go in. But if it is my best friend or wife, then I want to be there.

Or when I was single, and I was invited to a party, and I found out the girl I liked was going, I would be there- no more questions needed to be answered.

Since it was Jesus that called him, Matthew left all and followed. No other questions needed to be asked.

IT was because of who Jesus was, that He followed. Not because what they were doing or going to do. Not because what they were going to accomplish. It was because of who Jesus is.

Acts 20:22-24 Takes it a step further.

Matthew doesn’t know what is going to happen. Paul knows bad things are going to happen – but He still follows, He still goes. He is willing to go and wants to go- because of who is leading Him- the Holy Spirit.

IF the Holy spirit is driving, I’m in.

Others try to stop Him, but Paul’s not staying behind if the Holy Spirit is going somewhere else.

Truth is, if my wife is going somewhere, I want to be with her. Even if it’s out shopping, I’ll go. I’ll watch terrible tv shows, because I want to be with her.

Of course I’m following the Holy Spirit, even if trouble awaits me

The thing is:

I want to manage my life. I want to know what I’ll be doing. I want to know how long it will take. I want it to be easy. I want it to be worth it. I want it to be manageable at least.

God says none of that is important- all that is important is that you follow me and you are with me where I take you.

We are called to follow Christ. 
We want to know what to do, but we don't always want to follow. The Rich young Ruler wanted to know what to do, Jesus said follow me... worry about the details later...

We need to follow Him, wherever He tells us to, whenever He tells us to and do whatever He tells us to do.

If we would follow Christ – and all of us are called to follow Christ, then His specific plan and call on your life would be easier to see.

We need to submit to Him and follow Him – even if we don’t know what will happen, or how inconvenient it will be, or even if it does look difficult.

Because of who He is.
Follow Christ.

The thing about being called

I have lived the last 5 years in a foreign country. And had another year previously. I plan on going back soon. And living there for some time.

When people see me upon my return to the states they say “You must really like it there.”

A long-termer warned us people would think this and say it.

It’s natural to assume that. It makes sense. Why else would I be living there?

There are several advantages: It’s cheap, the food is good, there is a small tight community.

Plus, I actually like the pace of life.

Some may like the challenge -not me so much… Or the experience – but I could care less…

This is not the reason we’re there.

I don't really like it there that much, and i don't miss the place that much now that i've been gone.

Then why am I there?

Well, it’s not because it’s easy.

It’s not because I have better friends there.

It’s not because I like to travel.

It’s about God.

See… it’s not even what you may think… I don’t particularly love the people… or even like them.

The ministry is thriving… but it’s not easy.

If it were because of the people, I wouldn’t be there.

The reality is, the longer I’m in Asia… the more I dislike it. What I used to laugh at annoys me. What I used to tolerate, grates at me. What I used to see as innocent, I see as sinful. And what used to taste good, is old. What used to be nice, is aggravating.

The longer I am there, the more I see sin, the more I experience people taking advantage of me, the more people frustrate me.

But that is why I am there… b/c these people NEED Jesus.

BUT…

The Need itself is not enough… there is need everywhere!

 But this is where God called us. This is where God wants us to be.

And we are glad to be there.

We see God at work.

We experience His power and grace and faithfulness and provision

We grow in our faith… we depend on Him.

And we enjoy His glory.

God is working around the world, amongst the nations – and we want to be part of that.

Psalm 67 fuels my passion.

May the peoples praise You oh God

Shine your face upon them.

May the peoples praise You!

As Piper states “Missions exists because worship doesn’t”

We have seen God work. We have seen lives changed. We have seen movements develop. We have been amazed.

No, it’s not easy. And it is not fun. We don’t just have compassion on the people… but we do want to see God’s glory in the Nations. And that is the place to be.

We’re there for God’s Glory.

Ultimately though, it’s God’s Call.

We go because this is where God has called us to be.

It is hard. We long for stability. We long for a home. We long for good friends.

We know Hebrews 11:13-16

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Acts: 20:22-24 is my calling verse:

And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. ²⁴But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

I don’t know what will happen to me – except suffering – but I go bound by the Holy Spirit.

I don’t consider my life dear to myself, only that I may finish the course God has given me.

We want to see God’s Name Glorified.

We want to experience God’s glory.

We want to be where God wants us to be.

It’s about being where God wants us to be: for His purposes, His glory – in my life & in the world

We don’t make decision based on what we like or dislike. Not because it is easy, or because of the challenge. We don’t go b/c it is fun or an adventure, and experience or fun. We don’t go to feel good about ourselves, or simply to feel good.  We go bound by the Holy Spirit. We go to follow God. We go to honor Christ. We go to experience God’s glory. We go to worship. We’re there, because that is where God wants us to be.