It’s Day 6 of the Writer’s Challenge. Today’s challenge is to “steal” inspiration from the world around you-from other artists, quotes, song lyrics, etc. and use that as a springboard to your own creativity. Challenge duly accepted. Read on. 😉
“From the top of the world / to the bottom rung / ’til the work is done / I’m gonna send you. From the ends of the earth / to the nearest gap / all over the map / I’m gonna send you.” (From the song “Go” by the Newsboys)
Anyone who knows me well knows that I am an avowed CCM junkie-I love Christian music in general, and the Newsboys have long been one of my favorite bands. (Both as a band and various solo projects put out by current and former members.) I’m the kind of girl who can (and often does) quote obscure lyrics at the drop of a hat, and will sing along with every single song at a concert.
So what in the world does any of this have to do with missions? Why should you be interested in my musical preferences? The answer to the second question is that there is no particular reason why you should be interested in my musical preferences, though if you and I like the same music, feel free to trade obscure lyrical references with me any day. 😉
The answer to the first question is “stolen” from the lyrics at the top of this post. It’s a song that I love because it gives a clear challenge to get involved in missions, no excuses, all hands on deck, in every nook and cranny of life. It is a challenge that isn’t limited to those of us who have a formal “ministry title” like “pastor” or “missionary”.
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.“
Jesus sent out an odd assortment of people with this command. Several were fishermen, one was a tax collector (ever taken spiritual advice from your friendly IRS agent?), another had been a revolutionary, fighting against Roman domination of his homeland. There were men and women there, many of them young. And Jesus sent them all.
So what is my point here? My point is to challenge people to expand beyond obvious labels. If you are a Christian, the command “Go” is given to you. It doesn’t necessarily mean going to another country. It might just mean going to the next cubicle over, or to your next door neighbor. “From the top of the world / to the bottom rung…from the ends of the earth / to the nearest gap / all over the map / I’m gonna send you.” He didn’t say “Go and preach,” or “Go and help people who are poverty-stricken.” He said “Go and make disciples…baptizing them…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” This will look different for every person, but it should be part of our life as Christians.
So my challenge to those of you who are Christians is to look for chances to “Go therefore.” Whatever that may look like in your job, whether it means staying where you are at or going halfway across the world. Just get out there and go for it, knowing that you are never alone in this. “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
To any of my readers who are not Christians, I would challenge you to get to know the Christians around you. If you have questions about God, ask. We may not always have the answers, but we will do our best. The reason for Jesus’ command to “Go” was not to heckle you or harass you. It was to give us the chance to show you His love, to the best of our abilities. We aren’t perfect, but we are trying. Where we have screwed up, please forgive us.
So where will you “Go” today? Feel free to comment and let me know. Also, feel free to listen to the song below. 🙂
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