Explore God's Heart For World Missionsنموونە

Many of us have grown up hearing stories from the Bible, one at a time. We have also learned how to view or read the Bible in different ways: from a rule book to a crystal ball, and even a treasure map where we may find just the thing we need to make all right in our world. While at times, some of these aren’t inherently bad ways to approach God’s Word, when we read with these as our aim, we make His Word about us. The reality is, the Bible is a storehouse with one singular message of who God is, and His greatest passion to be worshiped by all peoples. Going far beyond the commonly recited Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19, there are more than 1,600 verses throughout Scripture that show God’s passion for His glory to be enjoyed by all peoples of the earth. This is the heartbeat of our God, and as such must be ours, too.

Missions can often be considered a niche of a particular church, while others hitch their wagons to other things, counting themselves out of missions altogether. What we see when we really examine God’s Word is that missions is God’s idea for all of us. Since creation, God has been intent on redeeming all peoples to Himself. As His redeemed, it is vital that we see the world as He sees it. That as we pray to have hearts like His, we remain open and eager to know and adopt His heart for the nations. 

When we look at Genesis 12, we see from God’s very first commission to Abraham, that His end-goal was “all peoples on earth”. “The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. ‘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. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” (vs 1-3). Here we see, for the first time, the heart of God longing for all to fall under His blessing and favor. 

Travel further through the pages of Scripture and the passing of thousands upon thousands of years, and you’ll find God delivering the same message. We see in the early church, the message of the disciples is God’s heart for all people to seek Him, to find Him, and to inherit this blessing. “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inherit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:26-27) It’s not a new idea, and it’s still a good idea. The only kind of good that can come from our very good God.

A World Christian is someone who understands God’s heart for the world and strategically lives their lives in such a way that wherever they are and whatever they do, they are working to see Him glorified among all nations. When we posture ourselves before His Word, eager to see His heart for the nations, we move from being a Christian in our own world to becoming a World Christian, with hearts that beat like His.

Father, we pray that You would do what You set out to do from the start—make Your name holy and exalted among all the peoples of the earth. Just like Abraham, David, and Paul, help us, Your church, to catch Your vision for all people to know You and to live it out the way You want us to. Make us obedient to Your holy Word, and all that You have said. In Jesus Name, Amen!