Monday Reflections on a Sunday Sermon

     This past Sunday, we tried our best to have a send off service for 3 of our missionaries that began 40-50 years ago from this very congregation. Two weeks ago, things were set in motion and we went to work planning, preparing, and working out the kinks in our technology. Last Thursday, things were looking pretty good. Sunday morning came, and the wheels came off the track with last second illnesses and technical issues. It seemed like things were just not meant to be and that there was every reason to be disappointed. 
     But our hope is not in technology and or anything else. Rather our hope is in an eternity spent with the Lord thanks to the gospel of Christ at work in our hearts. Yesterday was a spiritual battle. The enemy tried to snatch the joy and encouragement from us in every way possible. But we are not deterred! We rejoice that decades ago, several of our folks decided to change their lives forever and be workers in His harvest! They became people who spent their lives actively trying to engage the hearts of others with the gospel message, in safe places and other places not so safe.
     Now we look to a new generation. What do you need to let go of, so that you can look forward and be a similar kind of worker, called to a mission field either here or abroad?

Jesus said in Matthew 9:36-38 “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

Questions for you:
1) Is there any physical, emotional, or spiritual "stuff" in your way of being more "agile" in your response to God's call in your own life? What steps can you take today to alleviate those burdens?
2) Are you willing to humbly submit to the call of God in your own life- influencing those outside of your own family for the sake of the kingdom, or maybe to take you away from family and friends, so that you might make brothers and sisters in Christ?

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