Living faithful, fruitful and fulfilled on the mission field
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“10 million Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus. A Cambodian province closes schools after a leader of Hungary visited the country and tested positive. France and Italy report record cases as the virus ravages Europe.” We read these discouraging headlines and wonder if this pandemic will ever end. Highly contagious, it is proving extremely difficult to control. If only the hope that lives within us was as contagious!
What would it look like if the message of life, hope, and transformation we are carriers of would go viral through us?
To slow the spread of the virus we’ve been told to do a few important things. These contrast with seeing our hope in Christ go viral.
We are told:
Instead we must:
Let’s make our hope contagious! May many be infected through our lives.
“Act in the opposite spirit,” the speaker said in my Discipleship Training School. “What in the world does that mean?” I wondered.
I was twenty-three. My husband and I sat in the small living room filled with cozy couches that had been transformed into a class. There was a fuse-ball table (a tabletop game similar to soccer) in the back, and a fireplace in the front of the room. Converted for that purpose for those hours, it was a place to listen, discuss, and learn.
The speaker went on to give examples from scripture. “Jesus said, if someone takes your coat, you are to give them your shirt. That is acting in the opposite spirit. They take, you give.”
The more she taught, the more it made sense. This Kingdom Jesus calls us to is an upside-down Kingdom. When others hate, we love. When they accuse us, we speak blessing.
Learning to respond in the opposite spirit was a key lesson in my DTS (Discipleship Training School.) The application has been life-long.
We are surrounded by, even bombarded at times, by the spirit of the world. We must learn to recognize what we are hearing, seeing and encountering. Is this the Spirit of Christ? Or of the evil one?
“Seeking to live a spiritual life while staying in close contact with the world is no easy matter.”
– Teresa of Avila
In news media, social media, and even in conversations with friends and family, we must be on guard not to come under the spirit of the land.
Covid 19 has brought many changes to our lives. We can not allow it to bring a change to our hope for a tremendous harvest of souls. The Church cannot, it must not go into survival mode.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
1 Peter 3:15b NIV.
Do you live as a spiritually obvious person in your community? Jesus said to let our light shine, not hide it under a covering (Matt 5:16). Many of us are incognito (invisible) Jesus followers. Let’s take the figurative mask off and let the world see our faith and hope in God.
There has never been a better time for the difference that hope makes in our lives, to be put on display.
You don’t need to be obnoxious or preachy about your faith. Become comfortable talking about Jesus in a natural way, as you would about your best friend. Look for ways to open up your life to others.
One way is to offer to pray for those who complain, or share a struggle they are facing. Another way is to tell stories from God’s Word that relate to issues people are talking about.
What story or encouragement from the Bible could you share when people talk about how hard 2020 has been?
If we want to impact lost people, we must lean into the natural barriers between us. We are of a different Kingdom and must find ways to bridge the gap between their worldview and ours.
Not everything in the culture of the unreached people around you is evil. What can you learn from them or commend?
Perhaps with a Muslim, you could say you are inspired by their devotion to prayer several times a day. With a Hindu, you could express the way their commitment to hospitality, how they treat guests, challenges your life. Celebrate the good in the cultures around you and learn from them. This goes a long way in overcoming the distance between you and them.
While you may need to stand six feet apart, love can bridge that gap. Let your love be strong enough that it isn’t hindered by social distance. Find ways to bless and care for your neighbors in this time. A kind word, a prayer for healing, a phone call, or text message can go a long way when people are isolated and lonely.
God desires to release His incredible creativity to His people in these days. We may not be able to do evangelism or share our faith, in the ways we were comfortable with in the past. Let’s seek Him for new ways!
He promises to speak to us, to guide us if we will take time to ask and wait on His answers. A friend in India started forty online Discovery Bible Studies. With months, those forty had more than doubled and the online efforts spilled over to in person ministry as well. Others have joined online chat groups, met people there, then shared their testimony or passages of scripture.
Be creative and willing to experiment. Every idea won’t work, but as you persist, you’ll discover new ways to reach out.
The pandemic has brought many challenges. It has also brought tremendous opportunities to us as the Church. Let’s make the most of them!
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Italics added. Eph 5:15-17 NIV.
How will you act in the opposite spirit this week?
Share your comments below or on the Missionary Life Facebook page.
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Intimacy with God must be the constant pursuit of any disciple of Jesus. This is even more true of those of us who want to see Kingdom impact through our lives and ministries. The following article is a guest contribution by Kima Hmar.
Six months ago, I decided to adopt a puppy from my neighbors. This puppy, we affectionately named Kurly. She soon won our hearts and filled our silence. Tiny, obnoxious, cute, and infuriating, she chewed on everything she could sink her little teeth into.
Some days, I thought perhaps I made a mistake adopting her! One day, as I sat holding her tiny frame sleeping on my lap. I realized how frail and completely at my mercy she was. I could either snap her neck and kill her if I wanted to right at that moment, or continue to nurture her growth until she became a healthy strong adult.
When Jesus conversed with His disciples in John fifteen, He was deeply aware of the frailty of humanity. He understood our complete reliance on God to nurture us into healthy people whose lives bear the fruit of love.
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
John 15:4 NIV.
Kurly has grown stronger and can now move about doing many things. At the end of the day, however, she still needs to draw her source of nurture and care from me. We are not dogs, neither are we branches of a grapevine. These metaphors draw our attention to the reality that God is our life source. We are called to become those who reflect the love of God to our neighbors. This comes from an abiding life with Him.
We were created for intimacy – a depth of relationship where we are known and loved. This intimacy forms us into people who can love others, the lost, and creation in a way that is safe and good.
The dilemma for many of us is this. Though we know this to be true, our perception of God is marred by our life experiences. Intimacy can be scary territory. What we want to know is whether this God who has called us to Himself is safe.
Moses knew very little of the God of his ancestors when he first started his ministry. His perception of God was likely embedded in the Egyptian mythology of gods and goddesses. As he began the journey of knowing Yahweh, his internal perception was loaded with a disorienting view of God. It is much the same for us.
When God showed His glory to Moses in Exodus 34, He revealed himself in ways Moses did not expect. A god is expected to be terribly powerful, able to command blessings and curses as he sees fit. Yahweh, however, was unlike any other gods Moses had ever known. When He came to Moses, He proclaimed His compassion, grace, abounding love, and mercy. Even His punishment of the wicked is set within the context of His unending love and forgiveness.
God’s revelation of Himself to Moses provides us with a lens through which we can see God. When Jesus came and dwelt in our midst, He expounded on this Old Testament revelation of God by His life and actions. When He forgave sinners, sat with the children, cared for the widow, confronted the hypocrites and oppressors – Jesus revealed God to us. This God has called us to Himself and is safe. He will not harm, but heal. He will not condemn but forgive. This is the love that invites us to an abiding intimacy where we can draw our very life from Him.
I have worked in a voluntary mission organization for twenty-four years. I freely admit that in the busyness of doing the work of mission, I have often failed to create enough space to nurture my life with God. As a missionary….or as a believer, I am called to love God and my neighbors.
The big question is – will my love be safe like God’s, or will it harm rather than heal? My intimacy with God is the wellspring and source of love and compassion for others. I must be willing to develop practices in my life to create space for my intimacy to deepen with God.
There are three Christian spiritual disciplines I incorporate into my life as a way of deepening my communion with God. I invite you to join me in these. These disciplines are simple, small, and measurable. For the last five years, they have been an instrument the Holy Spirit has used to strengthen my intimacy with God in profound ways:
I choose one of my everyday normal routines as a space to be aware of God. One of the first things I do in the morning is to splash my face with cold water. For nearly five years now, every morning when I wash my face, I recite the Lord’s prayer. I imagine the Holy Spirit awakening my senses towards God as the cold water awakens me from my sleepiness.
Is there a daily routine you can choose such as driving to work, washing your hands, or walking up or down the stairs? Could you make this a holy space to meet with God? Choose a short verse or prayer to recite as you do this routine activity.
This was developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola. It’s a prayer where you spend at least five minutes before you go to sleep at night asking the Holy Spirit to help you review the day. Ask Him to bring to light when you were most attuned to God during the day and when you weren’t (for me, it’s always when I’m driving that I am least aware of God!!).
As He reveals the events to you, take a moment to be grateful. Ask forgiveness and offer a prayer for a greater capacity to be aware of God throughout the next day.
Choose any moment in your day when you can find space to be completely undisturbed and silent. Get rid of noise, music, and even reading scripture. For that moment, simply invite the Holy Spirit to come and sit with you. What God will speak to you about in this quiet “selah” (pause) moment of your day is profound.
I do this thirty minutes every day. That may be too much for you to start with. Even three or four minutes is a great beginning. Then slowly increase it.
Doing this has created depth with God. It has changed my pace of work from one that is driven to succeed, to one that is much more rested in God.
The crisis with Covid-19, and the busyness of your life and ministry can become holy ground. It can be a place where you meet with the infinite God of love and grace. I pray that as your life with Him is deepened, you might draw from Him the capacity to act lovingly and compassionately towards others around you.
Which of these three disciplines is new to you?
Choose one to try this week. Let us know how it goes for you on the Missionary Life Facebook page.
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“Knowing God is about a relationship, not religion,” we tell people. This is true! We believe it. If we are honest, though, there are times when our relationship with God can feel pretty religious. We go through the motions without much connection. Dryness creeps in, perhaps even a bit of boredom. What can we do when we feel spiritually dry?
First, if you are experiencing spiritual dryness, you are not alone. Don’t condemn or get angry with yourself. That doesn’t help. We all go through these times, but we don’t have to stay there. We can cultivate a fresh closeness with God.
To keep our relationship with God alive, we need to be consistent in spiritual disciplines like Bible study and prayer. Everyone knows this, so that is no news to any of us. We also need spontaneous “fun” times with Jesus. Ignore the basic disciplines and you won’t stay spiritually healthy. That is true on the mission field or elsewhere. But legalism kills. When those disciplines become duties and “shoulds”, they no longer give life.
I am a runner, but some days I just don’t feel like running. The blanket is cozy around me. I’m enjoying sitting in my favorite chair sipping hot coffee. What if I skipped my run today? Does it matter that much? No. Not really. But it makes it easier to skip my run again tomorrow. Before I know it, I’m no longer doing the exercise I need to stay healthy. I’ve lost my habit. It is then much harder to start again.
Spiritual exercise is the same way. Sometimes we just don’t feel like it. And, no, if we miss a day or two of Bible reading or prayer, it isn’t going to make God angry with us! He loves us and truly understands when we are just too busy or tired to do our normal devotions. But when those habits drop off, our relationship with God (and spiritual health) is sure to suffer too.
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Tim. 4:8 NIV
Keeping yourself spiritually healthy on the mission field has got to be a top priority! If your own spiritual health begins to deteriorate, so will your fruitfulness. No matter how many ministry demands and pressures are present, make time to do what is necessary to keep your own relationship with God growing.
There are two commonly taught lists of spiritual disciplines. The first is found in Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline, published in 1978. Foster writes of three types of spiritual disciplines; inward, outward and corporate.
Dallas Willard in his book Spirit of the Disciplines gave a similar though slightly different list. His list contains many of the same things as Foster, but with several additions; self-denial, sabbath, secrecy, and soul friendship.
See this excellent article by Bill Gaultiere called Insights and Applications of Spiritual Disciplines.
I’ve found it helpful to regularly review these two lists of spiritual disciplines and ask myself how I am doing in my godliness training routines. Are there disciplines I have neglected? Get my free checklist with both Foster and Willard’s lists via the form below.
While all the disciplines are important, these are core disciplines we need in order to stay healthy in our spiritual lives. These
It seems strange, but even as missionaries, it is easy for us to neglect these. We get busy doing ministry and fail to stop and take in nourishment for ourselves. We read the Bible, but only in order to prepare our next sermon or Bible study. How are you doing at these five basics?
I love that Foster includes “celebration” as a spiritual discipline. Did you know that it is spiritual to celebrate? God designed us to need
Silence is another one that many do not practice. It can be very life giving. Have you ever gone on a silent retreat? Taken a day away from work and ministry to be alone with God, not speaking to anyone but Him? Turn off even your worship music and allow your heart to become still. It is amazing what God will bring to the surface if we are willing to practice silence and solitude.
As you consider these spiritual disciplines, do you see any gaps? Areas you need to recommit yourself to spiritual training in? Take a moment and jot down that commitment in your journal. Or send a message to your accountability partner. Let them know that this next few months you will be working to develop in this area of your spiritual life.
I am a disciplined and goal-oriented person. Faithful to my routines, I regularly exercise both my body and spirit. I have found that just as in my relationship with my husband, if I want to keep my relationship with God alive, spontaneity is helpful. When things become too routine in my spiritual life, it helps to do something different and new.
Here are examples of things I’ve done. Give one of these a try if your relationship with Jesus is feeling dry. For a few days, skip your normal routines of Bible reading and prayer. Use that time (or choose another time) to do something creative and different with Jesus.
There are many creative, fun ways to stimulate your love relationship with Jesus.
What have you tried that brought new life? I’d love to hear about it in the comments or on the Missionary Life Facebook page!
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