The LightSample

Being The Light as a Sent Out One

Every believer is asked to be a light, a witness, and even an ambassador for Christ to those around them. In today’s reading, we see how God called Barnabas and Paul to go beyond those who were naturally around them in their service for Christ. The Holy Spirit separated Barnabas and Paul for “the work” that would lead them to leave their church in Antioch and start a journey to places where the gospel had never been.

We usually call this missionary work as it involves leaving a local setting and crossing cultural boundaries for the sake of the gospel. The word missionary simply means “a sent out one,” or one who is sent out on a mission. Every believer is sent out into the world they live in, and so in that sense, we are all missionaries. But God is still calling people to leave their home, move far away, and learn a new language and culture for the purpose of sharing Jesus with others. Like Barnabas and Paul, they are called by the Holy Spirit and affirmed by their church to be a part of “the work.”

Perhaps God is speaking to you about being a witness to those beyond your immediate context. There are so many places in the world that lack meaningful access to the gospel. Many (but not all) people around the world can find Christian resources on the internet, but this doesn’t mean they really have access to the gospel. The Bible doesn’t paint a picture of those without the gospel hunting to find Jesus through their determined efforts. The Bible describes those with the gospel being sent out to share it with those who haven’t heard it. That’s an important difference in who is supposed to take action. God’s people are not commanded to sit still and wait to be asked about Jesus. Rather, they are sent out and commanded to tell of Him. If you feel like God may be calling you to reach people beyond your immediate context, speak to your pastor to see what options are available. Ultimately, if the Lord is calling you, He will be responsible for making a way for you.

Prayer

“God help me know if You are calling me to be a sent out one so that many who have no meaningful access to You can hear of Your great love.”

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