“Saint” is not a badge of accomplishment – it is a declaration of grace.
It is not something I achieved through discipline, education, or ministry impact.
It is something I received.
One of the quiet patterns we see throughout the life of Jesus is His intentional withdrawal.
Again and again in the Gospels, Jesus steps away from the crowds, the demands, the miracles, and even His disciples. He retreats to solitary places to pray.
These moments were not acts of escape.
When we follow a GPS, we trust a satellite system we cannot see, guided by algorithms we do not understand. How much more should we trust the God who created the heavens, the earth, and every step of our journey?
The word nations is used over 300 times in the Bible. Why is this word so significant in the Bible? It helps us to remember God’s one plan from the beginning, to fill the earth with His glory. When we see God focused on the nations, it emphasizes the global scope of God’s redemptive plan. It allows us to keep our eyes on God’s perspective which is often much bigger than ours.
Letting go is not easy.
It is difficult to release responsibilities that have been part of your identity for years.
It is difficult to entrust something to someone else when they may not do it the way you would.
Missions is a part of making disciples or making disciples is a part of missions. Maybe it’s just semantics. Either way making disciples is fantastic.
Some seasons feel fresh and new—alive with hope, discovery, and possibility. Others feel harsh and cold, marked by loss, uncertainty, or difficult stretching.
In December, we don’t simply remember a story. We recommit to a calling.
Jesus came to us—
and now we go to others.
In studying the Christmas story recently, I was reminded of the overwhelming ministry Joseph and Mary were given. They were tasked with parenting the Messiah. I found it incredibly revealing to look at how the Father called them into ministry and just as incredible to see how they responded.
Prayer may be the most powerful thing we can do as believers, and certainly one way everyone can participate in missions.
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