Mission Trip Prayer & Devotional Planنموونە

"The Jesus Way"

How does Jesus expect us to make a difference? How does he propose we should act so that God’s world can be set right? Right from the beginning of his ministry he made clear that he held to a radical agenda.

He was a king, but a king without an army. He did not propose to bring change through force, nor even through argument. He told his disciples what he expected of them: to love their enemies. To avoid payback for mistreatment. To give freely to anyone — not just to the deserving. Mercy is the key, because God himself is merciful.

To say the least, this could not have seemed like a very powerful approach. In the face of a hypocritical religious establishment, a violent and oppressive government, and a society marked by poverty and injustice, Jesus speaks in the strongest terms about the power of love. This love is to be exerted not just to friends and family, but to people who despise and mistreat you. “You will get a lot out of this approach,” he tells them. Most tellingly, you will be “children of the Most High,” because you are acting in the way that he acts.

When you are on your mission trip, this will be your way of making a difference. You may find enemies among the church leaders you want to help; or among obstructive officials or greedy soldiers. You may find your enemy on your own team! Don’t fight them. Love them!

Prayer: Lord, love doesn’t come easily to me — especially when I’m trying to love people who are extremely unlovable. Help me to keep my focus on you, and on your kindness. You care for the ungrateful and the wicked. Help me to follow your way.