Being a Missionary Where You Are

Do you believe that your life matters? That you’re destined to bring healing to a broken world that needs what you have to offer? Yes, you!

Jesus’ appeal to some of His first disciples reflects a twofold calling on their lives: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). They were called to Him and to work with Him.

The disciples were described as “unschooled and ordinary men,” (Acts 4:13) yet Jesus wanted them with Him and wanted to empower their lives to have eternal significance. Never in their wildest dreams could they have guessed how God would use them.

As someone who was short for his age and grew up struggling to make friends, this is encouraging! Jesus’ calling applies to and empowers every believer. It’s not just pastors, cross-cultural missionaries and “super-Christians” who can really know Him and make a difference in the world. It’s you and me! God sent us as “missionaries” right where we live, work, and play. We cross boundaries to bring others the hope of Jesus whether those boundaries are cultural differences, personality traits, or neighborhood streets.

Before we do anything, Jesus calls us to Himself, to ground our life in His truth and who we are becoming in Christ Jesus. We get to know Christ through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and through His people. We can experience the Gospel, that redemptive ballad of God’s love and purpose for a broken world. We can experience closeness with God and, as we experience it, we will begin to draw others into that same relationship.

The true test of life in Christ is a transforming character—the extent to which we are a reflection of the Spirit of God to a watching world. He has called us to follow Him, to be like Him, and to help others follow Him, too, whether we’re in New York City, small-town Nebraska, or a South Asian jungle.

To be a follower of Jesus means that no matter our career, education, or season of life, we are called to know Him and to work with Him in a spiritual harvest. He has called us To know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same^®. The mission of God, as Jesus describes it, is not just for people who go to a remote African village—it is for everyday people like you and me, through our daily lives.

To read more from Doug, visit his blog at dougnuenke.com