MOTIVATION
FOR MISSIONS
Meditations of 10 Young Navigator Staff on the Mandate for Missions from the Word of God
MOTIVATION FOR MISSIONS May 2018 All rights reserved, including translations Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible; The New International version (NIV) © 1984 by the New York International Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Other versions include Revised Standard Version (RSV) © 1952 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches; New American Standard Bible (NASB) © 1963, 1971 by The Lockman Foundation; The Living Bible (TLB) © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers. The Navigators Singapore 117 Lorong K Telok Kurau Singapore 425758 Email: admin@navigators.org.sg
CONTE NT S 1.
The Old Testament’s Great Commission (Isaiah 49:6)
2.
The Promise to Make Many (Isaiah 51:1,2)
3.
Witnesses for God (Isaiah 43:10-12)
4.
All Peoples Come To Worship Him (Daniel 7:13,14)
5.
A Blessing of Faith (Genesis 12:1-3)
6.
Unquestioning Obedience (Joshua 1:8, 8:35, 11:15)
7.
Judgment and Salvation (Jonah 1:1,2, 4:11)
8.
Nations, Our Possession (Psalm 2:7-9)
9.
The Mission of Light (Isaiah 49:6)
10.
The Promise of Blessings (Genesis 12:1-3)
11.
The Gap-Man for Christ (Ezekiel 22:30)
12.
An Everlasting Covenant (1 Chronicles 16:14-18)
13.
Sense of Biblical History (Ephesians 1:4,5; Romans 8:29,30,
Romans 11:29,33; 1 Corinthians 2:9)
14.
Witnesses Sent By Christ (John 20:21; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:8)
15.
The Lord’s Return (Micah 4:1-5)
16.
God Works Through Servants (Isaiah 42:7)
17.
Send Me! (Isaiah 6:5-8)
18.
No Holding Back (Genesis 22:16-18)
19.
Light Up The World (Isaiah 49:6)
20.
Promise Fulfilled (Genesis 22:17)
21.
Walk In Obedience (Deuteronomy 11:13-29)
22.
A Chosen People (1 Peter 2:9)
23.
Channels Not Receptacles (Jeremiah 7:4,5a; Psalm 67:1,2)
24.
Even Till Old Age (Psalm 71:15-18)
25.
Workers Are Few (Matthew 9:36-38)
26.
A Story To Tell (Ephesians 3:6, 8-12)
27.
The Small In The Big (Isaiah 60:22)
28.
Glory In People (Haggai 2:7-9)
29.
A Special People (1 Peter 2:9,10)
30.
Rising Of The Sun (Psalm 133:3)
FOREWORD This set of 30 articles was written by a group of 10 young Navigator staff a while ago. It was part of an assignment for a course conducted under the New Staff Institute. We were rather delighted with their meditations and reflections and have decided to share them with a wider audience by printing them as a booklet. These meditations are based on the Bible. Does God’s Word still speak to us today? I believe it does. Nothing has changed. God still wants us to tell the world about His Son. God is GOOD. The extra “o” that changes the word “God” to “good” is because He gave us His ONLY SON (see Psalm 119:68). Let’s respond in love and obedience to His Call for us to make Christ known. Yap Kim Meng National Director The Navigators Singapore
1. THE OLD TESTAMENT’S GREAT COMMISSION Isaiah 49:6 “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” God’s concern is always for the world. Here in the Old Testament, His purpose for His chosen people is spelt out in Isaiah. This is very similar to that in Matthew 28:19,20. For in the eyes of God, His desires and plans are not meant to be isolated to a few but to the whole world. God considers it a “small thing”, a belittling attitude, to just think of a small scope for His grace and mercy. Just as He commissioned Israel then to go and spread His salvation, so today, Christ compels us to go forth with the same mandate. Since God’s desires and purposes are always linked to the ends of the earth (see Matthew 28), we cannot choose a limited scope of ministry and outreach. The challenge from the Word of God is always related to moving out and stretching to reach all God intended for us. Although we have a bi-focal vision—to reach the world through focusing on a few—we must not let this strategy cloud the ultimate goal. The imposing challenge and motivation for missions to me, like in Singapore Polytechnic or beyond into cross-cultural mission work, must base its conviction on mandates like that in Isaiah 49:6 which is so clear. Never think too small for God. Never do too little for Him. Never underestimate God’s promises and never overstate our works. There is always that “extra” that God wants of us. Missions has always been on my agenda. Perhaps this verse indicates that the time for enlarging my faith and scope of ministry is near or even here. I will be “extra” sensitive to His leading to missions throughout this New Staff Institute programme.
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2. THE PROMISE TO MAKE MANY Isaiah 51:1,2 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many.” These verses, in its context, is a promise given to the Israelites, who were longing for salvation to come. The promise is addressed to those who were striving after the right kind of life and is seeking Yahweh. The verse started by saying “Listen to me”. It appears again in verse 4, where it says, “Hear me”. Then in verse 9 it is a wake-up call, “Awake, awake!” Many of us do not want to listen. We want to see. We want to see the promise being fulfilled. No matter how many times God assures us, we still cannot be at ease. But many times, after God has given His promise, we just have to wait patiently. Continue listening to Him. Wait patiently for the promise to come to pass. This calls for faith and patience. In the case of the Israelites, perhaps they had waited too long. Their patience began to wear thin. Their faith began to shake. God then called them to look at Abraham and Sarah—Look at them! Learn from their faith! In the course of waiting, do not keep looking for the fulfilment of promise. Look at an example of faith. Look at an example of fulfilled promise. Look at the faithfulness of God. The call of Abraham always puzzled me. How could Abraham in the midst of nations worshipping idols, be able to recognise the call of God? I do not have an answer. But I do know that Abraham not only recognised it as a call of God but as a call with authority. This tells me that Abraham was more than a man of trusting faith. He was also a man who obeyed God. Genesis is not clear as to whether Abraham lived to see the birth of his grandsons Jacob and Esau. Even if he did, in my opinion, it does not seem very encouraging for a man who had been promised “descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore” (Genesis 22:17). - 02-
He certainly did not live to see that, but we know that the promise has been fulfilled. WE are his descendants (see Romans 4:16,17; Galatians 3:6-9). As a descendant of Abraham, I too, can look at him and Sarah and learn obedience, faith and patience from them both and to claim the promise that God will surely bless. When God called Abraham, he was but one. Nonetheless, God blessed him and made him many. I too, want to be blessed by God and to see that God makes me many.
“When I cannot read, when I cannot think, when I cannot even pray, I can trust.� - James Hudson Taylor
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3. WITNESSES FOR GOD Isaiah 43:10-12 “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no saviour. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.” God had chosen Israel as His servant to know, believe and understand who He is, so that the Israelites can be His witnesses to the nations. He wants to proclaim before all the pagan nations, which practices idolatry, that He is the One and Only True God and Saviour. He alone, is the Creator God who is the Alpha and the Omega. The Lord has revealed Himself to the Israelites and saved them. It is also His desire to reveal Himself to the nations through Israel and for them to be saved. Therefore, just as the mandate was given to Israel, Christ has also commissioned the Church to be His witnesses to the nations (see Acts 1:8). We are God’s chosen people to be used by Him as witnesses of who He is. Through our lives and proclamations, all nations may know that salvation only comes from the Lord Jesus Christ and that in believing, they too, will be saved. We must heed God’s call to be His witnesses at all times.
“You have one business on earth—to save souls.” - John Wesley
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4. ALL PEOPLES COME TO WORSHIP HIM Daniel 7:13,14 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Here is the vision given to Daniel from God—the Son of Man and coming Messiah, who is Jesus, will be the ruler over the whole earth. There will come a time when all peoples, nations and men of every language will worship him. His Kingdom is everlasting and His dominion endures forever. This vision revealed God’s desire— He wants not only His chosen nation, Israel, but everyone to be saved (see 2 Peter 3:9) and to worship Him. Indeed, God has created us in His own image and made us spirit-beings so that we can worship Him and adore Him with our spirits. Furthermore, being made in His image, we are to be His image-bearers. We should have the same desire as God has. We should seek not only to worship Him, but also bring others to do likewise. As Jesus has been given the authority and power, we who are the redeemed are given the authority to carry out the mandate and the responsibility to make disciples—God’s image-bearers of all nations (see Matthew 28:19,20). Therefore, we should be His faithful witnesses to go into every nation, every people group, every tribe … into the world to make disciples and worshippers of God. For God desires all peoples to come into His everlasting Kingdom and to worship Him, the only true and living God.
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5. A BLESSING OF FAITH Genesis 12:1-3 Revised Standard Version (RSV) Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.” Abram spent his early years in Ur and then a long season in Haran. Each community became his home. He had to leave friends, neighbours and kindred behind when he left Ur and still others when he departed from Haran. Abram had to leave aside the certainties of life and face the uncertainties of the future, to look for and follow the direction of God’s will. Thus, he had a new test of faith. The Lord had found the man for His purpose, one who would regard doing God’s will as the one important thing in life. He was divinely commissioned to go forth into a new land. He and his descendants would constitute a channel by which God would bless all the peoples of the world. God greatly strengthened Abram with promises of prosperity, posterity and greatness. The promise of blessing guaranteed Abram everything he could desire. His every need would be supplied. He was looked upon as the leader of God’s people. Through him would come blessings to all peoples of the earth. His name would be great and honoured everywhere. God chose Abram and his descendants to bear His gospel to the world. From the line of Abram, Christ was to come, so as to fulfil God’s purposes. It is men of faith who are sons of Abraham. Thus, we share in the inheritance and blessing of him whom God chose to bless. Abraham had set the example of faith to follow God whenever and wherever He called. As Christ had come to make it possible for us to claim this promise, we need to spread this Good News to all men so that they too can be blessed. -06 -
6. UNQUESTIONING OBEDIENCE Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 8:35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them. Joshua 11:15 As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. Joshua was a faithful man. When Moses gave Joshua the charge to obey the Word of the Lord, Joshua was not only faithful in obeying it himself, but he read it to the whole congregation so that they too would obey. Humility characterised this man of God. In a way, all his life he did nothing but follow the commands God gave to Moses. He did not question the authority of the commands. He did not demand to receive any “new” orders or to hear God for himself before he would carry it out. How unlike this generation of believers. We are slow to obey, quick to question, lacking in humility. We seem to demand that “God must speak to me personally” before I will obey. We are quick to rationalise, quick to hold back from obeying. The answers may be clear in Scripture but we ask “What is God’s will for my life?” God’s plans and purposes for His people and the nations remain the same. We see from biblical accounts that He remains on course regardless of what happens. His compelling Great Commission mandate found in the New Testament (see Matthew 28:18-20) finds its roots in the Old Testament promises to Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing … and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3). I know that I do not need a “new” mandate. I only need to be humble and faithful to obey all that God has already revealed in His Word. -07-
7. JUDGMENT AND SALVATION Jonah 1:1,2 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” Jonah 4:11 “But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” From these verses, we can see that God is concerned for people as well as livestock. The longsuffering God would not tolerate wickedness of the Ninevites any longer. But before He judged them for their sins, He sent His prophet, Jonah, to preach against them. This shows that God is gracious, compassionate and slow to anger. Knowing the character of God, Jonah knew that God would relent from sending calamity to the Ninevites if they would repent from their sins and turn from their wickedness. To Jonah, this pardon from the judgment of sin seemed unjustifiable and it made him angry. Many times we feel the same way as Jonah. However, we know of God’s compassionate and loving character and have experienced His salvation; therefore we should not only be concerned about our own comfort, peace and life. It will reveal little of our likeness of God. Furthermore, our concept of God would be distorted. God is not inconsistent in His character. He hates sin, yet He does not wish for man to perish in sin. He has provided the way of salvation for mankind, demonstrating His great love. Judgment is sure, so is salvation to all who would repent and turn to God. The Good News is available to all who will believe the message of truth and take hold of it. Regardless of how anyone feels about God, when a messenger preaches the Good News of salvation, God will take care of any conflicting emotions he may have and will enable the obedient messenger to know Him better. -08-
8. NATIONS, OUR POSSESSION Psalm 2:7-9 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron sceptre; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” This passage reveals the power, authority and sovereign rule of God over all nations and peoples of the earth. The rebellious nations have incurred His anger. However, He is slow to judge because of His merciful desire to save all. Jesus Christ is the Son who was sent to save the world, because of God’s great compassion for us. We, who have been called by Him, have become the children of God. We, therefore, not only share in His glory and inheritance, but we also share the responsibility of reaching the world for Him. We have been entrusted with the message of reconciliation. First, we ought to boldly ask of the Father for the nations of the world to become our inheritance. Second, we must declare freely the gospel message to those who are still living in darkness.
“Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is— where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge.” - Robert C. Shannon
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9. THE MISSION OF LIGHT Isaiah 49:6 Revised Standard Version (RSV) “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” This is the mission given to the Lord’s servant, whose given task is to restore Israel and to bring light to the Gentiles. As it is written in Isaiah 42:6,7, “I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind ... ” (RSV). God’s desire for the salvation of the whole earth can clearly be seen here. Paul said in Acts 13:47, “For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth’” (RSV). We are therefore commanded to be the light like Christ Jesus, who has already set the pace for us by what He had done on the cross. This is recorded in Acts 26:23, “that the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles” (RSV).
“God, hold us to that which drew us first, when the cross was the attraction and we wanted nothing else.” - Amy Carmichael
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10. THE PROMISE OF BLESSINGS Genesis 12:1-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” God made a number of promises to Abram when He chose him from his own people. First, God promised Abram land. This land was not merely a dwelling place for Abram and his descendants, but it would also be a central place where God could manifest Himself to the rest of the nations. Then there was the promise to make Abram a great nation and to be the blessing in all the families of the earth. Abram is to be the father of many nations. We, as people in Christ, are also able to claim this promise. In Galatians 3:7-9, PauI said: “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer” (NASB). Paul also wrote, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus ... and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:26,29 NASB). These verses certainly shed some light on the passage in Genesis 12:1-3. We can see the fulfilment of that promise for all who are in Christ. We too, can claim to be heirs of this promise, that our descendants will be plenty, and that we will be a blessing to others in God’s plan of redeeming the world to Himself.
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11. THE GAP-MAN FOR CHRIST Ezekiel 22:30 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” God needs individuals to respond to His call in order to unwrap His purposes. The task of the Great Commission is one of God’s purposes which has echoed through the ages with the need for men who will be a “go-between” for Him. The mandate to go and make disciples of all nations requires committed believers to bridge the many gaps in society and cultures in order to reach people for Christ. These gaps may be in the form of languages, lifestyles, values or philosophy. Progressively, we will encounter many environments and situations where modern advancement and technology and even our familiar ministry know-hows will simply not penetrate the barrier of sin. Thus, missions becomes a call for me to be a person from and for God who stands in the gap. I need to fill missing gaps with the sole aim of reaching others. Due to the many manifestations of sin’s complexities in different societies and cultures, I need to know how to stand between God and the harvest field to reconcile souls to Christ. Like the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, we as ambassadors of Christ, entrusted with the message of reconciliation, should know how to reconcile our fellow men to Him in practical and relevant ways so that they can see and respond to God’s grace. Herein is the ministry of reconciliation—the ability to tell and reconcile (gobetween) men to God in real and genuine applicable ways. As we appeal to people, we must be ready and willing to stand and bridge any gaps that hinder any response to God’s mercy. I need to contextualise the gospel as part of my missions. In Ezekiel, God is looking for men who will do just that—make His message true and purposeful in tangible ways. With the numerous impact of modernisation, the need becomes more urgent as the challenges of our times are right at our doorstep. -12-
Are there any changes needed on my part as I seek to be a “gap-man”? My heart and my commitment? My availability? The relevant ministry approaches and changes? Where am I in His ministry? Am I among the missing links and gaps? Perhaps this is the fresh challenge God is giving me for the ministry.
“Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. He is too wise a God to frustrate His purposes for lack of funds, and He can just as easily supply them ahead of time as afterwards, and He much prefers doing so.” - James Hudson Taylor
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12. AN EVERLASTING COVENANT 1 Chronicles 16:14-18 He is the LORD our God ... He remembers his covenant forever, the word He commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.” God is faithful and unchanging. He remembers His covenant forever. Indeed, the covenant He made with Abraham was an everlasting one. In His covenant in Genesis 17:1-8, Abraham was to be the father of many nations and his descendants were to be a blessing to the whole earth. Yahweh was to be his God, and the God of all his descendants and the land of Canaan was to be his inheritance (v. 18). God kept His covenant with Abraham and He continues to confirm it through making Jacob a nation—Israel. God indeed selected Abraham/Israel to be His model in order to accomplish His redemptive purpose. Though His plan and blessing began with one man, Abraham, it went on to one nation, Israel. Ultimately, it is meant for the whole world. As descendants of Abraham, we are bound to be God’s model. We need to take our responsibility as salt and light of the world. In so doing, others may see who God is in our lives besides just hearing who God is through our lips. As a result, they may proclaim Him as their God and enjoy His blessing.
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13. SENSE OF BIBLICAL HISTORY Ephesians 1:4,5 For He chose us in him before the creation ... In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— Romans 8:29,30 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son ... those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified, those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 11:29,33 For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. … Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” One is always able to better appreciate a person or current day situation when today is seen in the context of history. Yesterday always affects today. I am awe-struck by the wisdom of God and His plans. How reassuring it is to know that God’s plan for salvation has been on His heart even before the creation of the world. God’s redemption plans are not haphazard. Every one of His acts have been purposeful and deliberate—creation, the flood judgment, the Babel experience, the calling of Abraham, the covenant promises. We have short-changed ourselves and those we minister to when we focus on the gospel with just the New Testament. Questions my teens ask and some of the issues that plague a few of our labourers help me to appreciate how little we understand God. It is no wonder our faith is so weak. We cannot fully appreciate God because our concept of God is so warped and precarious. During my course with the New Staff Institute, the “Scriptural Roots of the Ministry” -15-
studies, the “Biblical Theology of Missions” class and the video on the New Tribes Mission outreach to the Mouk people in Papua New Guinea impressed me deeply. Things made sense to the Apostle Paul because he had a sense of the past. He understood the mind of God. It was no wonder that he remained so faithful and stood his ground even in the most impossible situations. I wonder if we need to re-think our methods of evangelism and establishing? How can we do this?
“It is wonderful what miracles God works in wills that are utterly surrendered to Him.” - Hannah Whitall Smith
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14. WITNESSES SENT BY CHRIST John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Luke 24:46-49 He (Jesus) told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” These are the words of the resurrected Christ when He appeared before the disciples in Jerusalem. The charge is given to them to be His witnesses. The message is the gospel, telling nations, all peoples everywhere, that Jesus Christ suffered, died and rose from the dead to take away the sins of mankind and offer them eternal life. This had been written and thus fulfilled. The message-bearers were reliable witnesses because they had been eyewitnesses of Jesus. They knew Him, His passion, His obedience, His teachings and His lifestyle. What they did not understood, the Holy Spirit would make clear whenever they needed that in their witness. The sending of the promised Holy Spirit into the disciples’ lives empowered them for the mission. The disciples were strong witnesses for Christ. The love of God for the salvation of mankind is not limited to the Jews in Jerusalem. His charge covers all people groups to the ends of the earth. From the time of the first century disciples, the gospel was preached and we, who are recipients of this grace, testify to the Holy Spirit working out the faithfulness of the early disciples in their obedience to proclaim the gospeI. -17-
This charge has not changed for us today. As the Father has sent Jesus, so we are also sent with an authoritative and powerful commission which we cannot ignore. Therefore, the call to be witnesses for Christ is for every disciple. It is not a question of giftedness, but a matter of obedience. If Christians are not living as witnesses for Christ, God’s Spirit cannot convert souls all over the world. He chose those who know Him to proclaim it to others so that by believing, they can be saved. The role of a witness is, therefore, the privilege of Christ’s disciples to experience God’s power working in them by the Holy Spirit.
“The best remedy for a sick church is to put it on a missionary diet.” - David Livingstone
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15. THE LORD’S RETURN Micah 4:1-5 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever. The day of the Lord’s return is a day to be looked forward to! In the last days, the different nations and peoples of different cultures and language will gather together to worship the one and only true God. The Lord Himself will reign henceforth and forevermore. People from various lands will be attracted to the temple of God—His church or His people. God will then teach the saved ones His ways so that they may walk in His steps. God’s Word will be communicated and spread. The Lord will judge. There will be no more disputes and wars in the new Jerusalem. Peace will be permanent. There is no need for anyone to train for war. Everyone who lives in God’s Kingdom will willingly submit to His Word and decisions. Each will have their own abode and be completely secure. There will be no more fears and tears. Since the Lord has spoken, He will fulfil His Words (see Isaiah 55:10,11). God gives people the freedom to choose who they wish to worship. The people who -19-
choose to walk in the name of the Lord will walk in obedience to His Words. They will worship and enjoy Him throughout eternity. What a wonderful privilege! From this passage, it can be seen that the world is very much upon the Father’s heart. He loves all peoples. They are all precious in His sight. We as His beloved children have been chosen to carry the message of reconciliation to the ends of the earth and should bear the responsibility to reach the peoples in this world.
“Some wish to live within the sound of Church or Chapel bell; I want to run a Rescue Shop within a yard of hell.” - C.T. Studd
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16. GOD WORKS THROUGH SERVANTS Isaiah 42:7 “ … to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” In 1984, this was one of the verses God gave me when I sought Him concerning my future involvement in the ministry. Isaiah 42:5 tells me that He who gave the promise is one who “created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it.” This reminds me of high level government officials who create big projects. They care only about the big picture. They are not interested in the minute details. But my creator God is so different. He not only created the big picture (heavens and earth), but He also cared about the minute details (people). He effortlessly spread out the heavens and the earth then turned around and gave life to His creation. Such is the God who has spoken to me—personal, caring and absolutely marvellous! I remember writing a date beside the verse and claiming it. I asked God to continue to let me lead people to Christ, and I asked Him for many. I prayed that I might be a successful evangelist, perhaps like Billy Graham. Since 1984, I have seen people making decisions for Christ as a result of my evangelistic efforts. Yet I feel it is far too little. The evangelism process I experience is slow and tough. Initially, I felt as if impossible things could be achieved and that anything could happen from my labours. Yet I have barely scratched the surface. I am humbled. I know I will continue to be in a dilemma. One voice tells me to get “instant converts”, to press for decisions (even if it is the first time he hears it!), to share “diluted gospel message”, to stress less on lordship and repentance (don’t scare people!), to invite people “to try out first’’. But the Holy Spirit tells me to impart the truth completely. Let the Holy Spirit and God’s Word work in him. Go through the whole study (don’t skip! -21-
don’t short circuit!). Accept that I may not be the final chain. I may have just moved him a step closer to God, the Lord willing, or even, maybe not. Let God work. I am only His servant.
“If I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated sufferings.” - Adoniram Judson
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17. SEND ME! Isaiah 6:5-8
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
And I said, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts!” Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” I am able to identify with Isaiah—my fallen being, weaknesses, failures and helplessness; so unworthy of His calling! I am grateful for His forgiveness and redeeming grace which are always there to meet my needs and help me contend with my present situations and circumstances. Help! Lord, it is beyond me! Just as He applied coal from the altar to Isaiah’s lips to cleanse him, I too can be made whole by His Word and the Spirit’s enabling. I am sanctified and equipped for His ministry of praise, prayer and proclamation of God’s word now. If only I can always co-operate with Him to serve Him and preach His Word faithfully and fearlessly! Isaiah was then invited in verse 8 to serve Him. He responded willingly. I have always desired to serve the Lord unreservedly, be it locally or cross-culturally. It is so disheartening at times to see circumstances that look so bleak and impossible. Nevertheless, I believe if the Lord were to call, then He would open all the right windows and doors. I need to remember that as His people, created in His image, we are entrusted with the message and ministry of reconciliation. All I have to do is to serve Him in obedience, knowing that He created us to exhibit His power in order to achieve His purposes on earth. So Lord, here am I, send me! -23-
18. NO HOLDING BACK Genesis 22:16-18 “ ... I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Here, God again confirmed His covenant with Abraham, the man of faith, after he was being tested. God promised to bless Abraham, make his descendants numerous and through them, also bless all nations on earth. God made this declaration to Abraham because he feared and obeyed the Lord. Abraham did not withhold his beloved son from God when He commanded him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Because of Abraham’s obedience, those of us who belong to Christ are in fact Abraham’s offspring, a fulfilment of God’s promise (see Galatians 3:29). Therefore, we are to be used by God to be a blessing to all nations on earth, so that others may also become heirs according to this promise. Like Abraham, obedience is demanded of us if we are to be a blessing to the nations. Such obedience may be costly, requiring us to surrender our best to God and hold nothing back from Him. But we can be assured that as we obey God and be a blessing to all nations, we ourselves will be blessed in return by our gracious God.
“Whatever we do, we must not treat the Great Commission like it’s the Great Suggestion.” - Charles R. Swindoll
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19. LIGHT UP THE WORLD Isaiah 49:6 He says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Together with Genesis 12:1-3 and Exodus 19:5,6, this verse is sometimes called the “Great Commission of the Old Testament”. This verse is also partially quoted by Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13:47, “ … I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” According to this verse, the restoration of the tribes of Jacob or the preservation of Israel is a small matter in comparison to what follows. The subject in this verse is referring to the Messiah (see Isaiah 49:3,5). Though Christ is being mentioned as the light of the world (see John 8:12), we as Christians are also commanded to reflect His light (see Matthew 5:14) so that God’s salvation may be proclaimed through us, to the rest of the world. It may be comforting to note that God calls it “His salvation” which gives us an idea of how much His heart is upon it. God never limits His plan of redemption to Israel alone, but His heart is truly for the world. Likewise, we too need to embrace this world vision by lighting up the darkness around and beyond us.
“A servant’s life is not an easy life. A servant must learn to persevere through many trials. Perseverence demands courage and endurance. Neither cowardice nor the love of ease would deter him from his duty.” - Doug Sparks -25-
20. PROMISE FULFILLED Genesis 22:17 Revised Standard Version (RSV) “I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore ...” God’s promise to Abraham that He will indeed bless him and multiply his covenant descendants is in relation to the fulfilment of the Abrahamic Covenant (see Genesis 26:3,5,24). It was not by his obedience that Abraham earned this blessing. God’s rewards are as much acts of His grace as is His original choice of the recipients. God was pleased to affix this repeated blessing to Abraham’s supreme test of faith. We are thus taught that Abraham’s seed threading through the Old and New Testament are to inherit the world through faith (see Romans 4). God assured Abraham repeatedly that His covenant with him would be fulfilled (see Genesis 13:1; 15:5). The comparison of Abraham’s seed to stars and sand illustrated God’s immeasurable blessing. Jesus had come as the completed sacrifice, dying on the cross that we too could be heirs of the promise (see Hebrews 6:13-20). “Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as innumerable grains of sand by the seashore” (Hebrews 11:12 RSV). This great promise also applies to us now. The Lord will indeed multiply us as we go forth in faith to reach the world for Him, giving Him the glory! “No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised” (Romans 4:20,21 RSV).
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21. WALK IN OBEDIENCE Deuteronomy 11:13-29 Revised Standard Version (RSV) “ ... For if you will be careful to do all this commandment which I command you to do, loving the LORD your God, walking in all His ways, and cleaving to Him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves. Every place on which the sole of your feet treads shall be yours; your territory shall be from the wilderness and Lebanon and from the River, the river Euphra’tes, to the western sea ...” In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses in the closing months of his life reminded the Israelites of the mighty acts of God. He encouraged the Israelites towards faith and obedience, establishing the supremacy of God who had formed the assured ground— the covenant relationship with them. Moses wanted the people to draw an important conclusion from his review of their history. The strength of the Israelites was directly related to their obedience. Therefore, they could prosper in the new land only by observing or obeying all of God’s commands. Obedience to the specific commands was essentially an expression of one’s love for God. Also, consistent allegiance to Him was an evidence of love. Here we hear again the assuring words of God. His blessings to the people. God desires our obedience and reverence. We are called to obey His commandments, to love and serve Him with all our hearts and souls. Then we will enjoy His prosperity and be blessed—the blessing of dispossessing nations greater and mightier. It is encouraging to know that God is going to fulfil the promise through us as we are committed to the task of reaching the nations. Our part is to walk in obedience.
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22. A CHOSEN PEOPLE 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. All Christians are a chosen people. We are no longer excluded from those privileges and rights belonging to the Jews in the Old Testament declared by Moses as a special people of God. As believers in Christ, we can now lay claim to be called the chosen people of God. We are chosen by God, not only to an external adoption but also to an eternal salvation. All servants of Christ are a royal priesthood. Consecrated to God, we as God’s priests, have the privilege to come before His throne of grace and offer our petitions to Him. We can even offer ourselves for His services to serve Him for His glory. As a holy nation, we need to recognise the headship of Christ and His government over all. Besides, what makes it more special is that we are His purchased possession. Enjoyment of such privileges has its responsibilities. God all along had in mind that as His special people, we are to declare His glory to those that are still in darkness, so that ultimately, more people can encounter His wonderful light. Failing to declare His glory in words and deeds will deny them this wonderful blessing. We must never be inward looking and act selfishly by not sharing this treasure. If we have truly experienced the great difference between being trapped in darkness and now basking in the light, then gratitude should compel us to spread this riches to those spiritually deprived and to be excited that God’s name is glorified throughout the world.
“Your mission is preparation. It is your school to eternity.” - Spencer W. Kimball
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23. CHANNELS NOT RECEPTACLES Jeremiah 7:4-5a The Living Bible (TLB) But don’t be fooled by those who lie to you and say that since the Temple of the Lord is here, God will never let Jerusalem be destroyed. You may remain under these conditions only: If you ... Psalm 67:1,2 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. The Israelites took their birthrights for granted. They were circumcised in the flesh but not in their hearts. They saw themselves as receptacles rather than channels of blessings that God wanted to use to bless the nations. They assumed that just because they were chosen, they had exclusive rights to live as they pleased. God warned them in Jeremiah 9:26 that “unless you circumcise your hearts by loving me, your circumcision is only a heathen rite like theirs, and nothing more” (TLB). It is very interesting to note that during the period of the Judges, a Gentile woman should prove to be a shining star to a wicked and perverse generation (see Ruth 1:1). Ruth, who was included in the ancestry of Jesus (Matthew 1:5,6) was “a woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:11). She proved to be an example to the people of God and to the nations at large, that God is impartial. He is unprejudiced in His desire for righteousness and justice to be exercised in all the earth (see Jeremiah 9:23,24). God takes our righteous lives seriously. He can and will use anyone who aligns himself to His purposes. Several thoughts stand out to me. First, I am encouraged that God is not just interested in the masses but in individuals. He will use anyone—a woman, a Gentile, anyone who will come alongside His purposes. God can use me! Second, as I look at the Church today, I am concerned that we, the new Israel should -29-
think and live no better than the first Israel. My prayer is that we will not make the same mistake that the Israelites did in living exclusively for themselves. We are blessed to be a blessing.
“The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.� - Billy Graham
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24. EVEN TILL OLD AGE Psalm 71:15-18 My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long ... I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Since my youth, ... to this day I declare your marvellous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. In this Psalm, we perceive that the writer desires to tell of the greatness and the wonders of God seen throughout his life. He did not forget how God had taught him ever since he was young. He remembered how from birth he had relied on God (vv. 5,6). He was sensitive to God’s presence and workings in his life. He acknowledged the greatness of God even in the midst of troubles and bad times (v. 20). For he was convinced that God was his only hope. As such, even though he was advanced in age, he continued to seek to testify of the attributes, mighty acts and salvation of God to the younger generation. In the same way, as children of God, we should keep on acknowledging God’s presence and workings in our lives, so that we will not forget to testify of the reality and greatness of God, especially of what He has done in our lives to the next generation. We are to do this even when we are old and grey.
“The work of the church is not survival. She exists to fulfil the Great Commission.” - Brother Andrew
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25. WORKERS ARE FEW Matthew 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Jesus had been going through all the towns and villages, teaching, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom and healing the sick. In the process of ministering to so many people, His heart went out to them because He was able to see them as they really were—harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. They were wandering about in life without any protection and spiritual guidance as they were not following Jesus Christ, the true Shepherd. Jesus’ great compassion for the people prompted Him to tell His disciples to pray to God to send out more workers into His harvest field because the harvest was plentiful (for the Kingdom was at hand) but the workers were few. As Jesus’ disciples, we also need to open our eyes and see that the fields are already ripe for harvest (see John 4:35). There are so many people out there in the world who are spiritually lost and who desperately need the Shepherd to save them from their sin. We must, like Jesus, have the same kind of love and deep burden for their lost souls, being able to see people without Christ as they are—needy, helpless, aimless, hopeless, oppressed, insecure and broken. They are waiting for someone to reach out to them. The urgent need for workers now is just as pressing as during Jesus’ time. This calls for us to respond not only in prayer, but also in obedience to go into the Lord’s harvest field as His workers because people around us are dying without Christ.
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26. A STORY TO TELL Ephesians 3:6,8-12 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus ... this grace was given me (Paul): to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His (God’s) intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. The above passage spells out Paul’s distinctive mission to reach out to the Gentiles. From it, we can also see God’s purpose for the Church, His people. The mission is to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ and the message includes the news that all can be heirs together with God’s chosen people, Israel. The message to make known the promise in Christ Jesus is not given to Paul alone. It is God’s idea to have the Church display His manifold wisdom by making it known. Before Jesus Christ came into the world, the mystery of Christ “was not made known to men in other generations” (see Ephesians 3:5). The Good News is that Jesus Christ came and fulfilled God’s eternal purpose in providing salvation through His death and resurrection. Therefore, salvation is not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles so that all may come before God with freedom and confidence. God may not have spoken to us like He did with Paul, but the mandate is still valid for us. In His priestly prayer for future believers, Jesus prayed for those who will believe in Him through the message of His disciples. By their proclamation, the world may know and believe that God loved them even in their sinful state. If Paul had not been converted while persecuting the disciples, the Good News might not have been significantly preached to the Gentiles and we may not have known -33-
that we can be heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (see Romans 8:17). We are the Church. Let us make known Christ who in His manifold wisdom turned death into a triumphant victory over Satan in conquering death with His resurrection. For all who have faith in Him, He reconciles them to God, making them children and heirs of God.
“Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
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27. THE SMALL IN THE BIG Isaiah 60:22 “The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly.” Missions. We think of it as a gigantic task ahead with its innumerable challenges and multiple complexities. If we consider the whole world as people groups to evangelise to and to disciple, where the scope is the ends of the earth and its audience is all nations, then what we have is a tremendous and awesome task the Lord has assigned us. It needs all authority in heaven and earth from Christ (see Matthew 28:18) to pulse this mandate. It caused God His Son’s life to initiate it and will cause many their lives, to finish it. But in the midst of all the commotion and activity, God has in mind the concept of starting and carrying out His purposes in small, sometimes, insignificant ways. Often we forget that Christ likes to use small, but nevertheless powerful, instruments or media to transmit and execute His will perfectly. Remember the feeding of the thousands with simple bread and fish, the entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, the calling of normal ordinary fishermen and common folks to be closest with Him and the humble vocation He chose while on earth to testify to the plain zealousness and simple approaches God uses in His plans. Indeed, the divine zeal together with His timing is what it takes to accomplish the job of discipling all nations. The least in God’s hand will become thousands and the smallest a mighty nation. God is in the business of making little amount to much, insignificance to dominance, plans to real effectiveness. This shames our sometimes collective, over the top approaches in meeting the objectives. Only He can do it. The zeal of the Lord will carry it through. In missions, every impact counts, especially those that seem dwarfed. For God likes to use “the mustard seed” model to spur His work further deeply and purposefully. Even someone like me in regards to missions, may seem small and insignificant but in the hands of God, the same principle can be true in our lives. -35-
Missions. A great burden and task indeed. Yet let us not forget that God sees and uses channels that are normative, plain and even foolish to worldly eyes as true means of getting His work done. Using the “small and least” (like me) to match a great and awesome task so that we can really know and learn of His infinite grace and mercy for us. He is a God that uses little and small denominators to achieve His will. Lord, may Your kingdom come and Your will be done.
“The law is for the self-righteous, to humble their pride: the gospel is for the lost, to remove their despair.” - Charles H. Spurgeon
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28. GLORY IN PEOPLE Haggai 2:7-9 “I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the LORD Almighty. “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,” declares the LORD Almighty. “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the LORD Almighty. “And in this place I will grant peace.” declares the LORD Almighty. The Lord promised that at His coming, all nations will desire to go to His temple where His presence is. We are so blessed that His presence is with us already, as it is written in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” The Lord Almighty owns and reigns over all. The wealth of the earth, such as silver and gold, belongs to Him. He deserves all glory because of who He is and what He has done throughout history. His purposes prevail. What He has promised, He will fulfil. The New Testament records the fulfilment of the promise of the Messiah. Our Lord Jesus Himself came and preached peace to those who were far away and to those who were near. The promise of the Holy Spirit has also been fulfilled. He has given both Jews and Gentiles access to the Father by one Spirit. Christ is the chief cornerstone in whom the people of God are joined together and built up to become a dwelling place for His Spirit (see Ephesians 2:17-22). With this indwelling of the living Spirit of God among His people, God’s glory is reflected in them. The people of God are now empowered to be different from the rest of the world. Their lives ought to attract other people to Christ so that God will be glorified. Meanwhile, as God’s people who look forward to His second coming and the glorification of His Church (whose glory will be greater than the former), we ought to live holy and godly lives as a testimony to the world, and be peacemakers to our fellow men, as we bring them to have peace with God. -37-
29. A SPECIAL PEOPLE 1 Peter 2:9,10 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. The term “chosen people” used to apply to Israel. It is now used to describe both Jew and Gentile believers. The responsibility once solely entrusted to the nation of Israel has now been given to the Church. As Israel was “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God”, so believers are now priests, holy and belonging to God. Indeed, I am privileged to be called “a chosen people, a royal priesthood … , a people belonging to God”. I know that Christians are special people because God has preserved them for Himself. My offering to God, having received such underserved mercy from Him (v. 10), is to pursue and practise a life of holiness, since we are serving as God’s holy and royal priesthood. I should live this priestly life, so that my Heavenly Father’s qualities are evident in me! God’s purpose in choosing believers for Himself is that we may declare the praises of Him before others. Thus, I need to testify of the gospel and grace of God. Especially as a recipient of God’s mercy, I have to declare to the lost, to those in darkness, how God has “called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”. “Darkness” must refer to those without Christ, those ignorant of God’s provision of salvation or those who have not known, received and obtained mercy. How lost would they be! If I could be that vital link, then Lord use me to shine as a beacon of light for you.
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30. RISING OF THE SUN Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. We all know the familiar chorus, “From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the Lord’s name is to be praised.” I guess being overly familiar with this chorus, I never really gave it much thought. I never considered that this verse could encourage Christians to praise God all day long, from dawn to dusk. Someone shed light on these lyrics before I could fully appreciate the beauty of this thought. I ought to have thought about it geographically. From the place where the sun rises to the place where it sets, all over the whole globe, all men and all nations are to praise His name. I do not know of a place on the surface of the earth that does not get to enjoy the sun, no matter how briefly. Likewise, the name of the Lord. It is no wonder that Psalm 113:4 mentions, “the Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens.” The Lord is concerned about the whole world, all the nations, which should praise His name. Though this should be happening, I know that it is not. We know that there is the 10/40 Window, which comprises of nations that are home to the majority of the world’s unevangelised countries. That is still the biggest challenge for God’s labourers . I am much encouraged by something I learned in the course on “The Biblical Theology of Missions”. In the course text, the book In Step with the God of All Nations mentions that God is never limited by small numbers. He can, and will, work through a remnant. He does not lack ways or means and His plan is never thwarted because of men.
“A person is either a missionary or a mission field.” - Corrie Ten Boom -39-
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