People Get Ready...Sample

Engaging in Mess

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV).

This Summer, I spent a month in Greece working in a refugee camp. My whole month was characterized by constant realizations of the depths of God’s love, but one specific experience stuck out to me the most. One day in camp, I had the unique opportunity to scrub a plywood floor in a housing unit that was being repurposed for the next refugee family. In this admittedly disgusting situation, God was revealing to me a deeper understanding of His heart.

Even in my rebellion against God, He did not turn away from me in disgust. He got on His knees, joyously rolling up His sleeves to scrub away the mess my sin caused (Rom. 5:8). He has no reluctance in His pursuit of me, and nothing can separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). He feels the same about every other person in this world because He created each of us (Psalm 139:14).

God invites us to be a part of His pursuit of this world. He sends us out to go engage with other people in their mess. Like the Lord has done for us, we can get on our knees and serve others in humility (Phil. 2:3-4). We are not called to back away; we are called to bring healing to those who are hurting.

You do not have to be qualified. You do not have to have everything together in your own life. If you are willing to sit with someone when they are at their worst and simply show them the same deep love Christ has shown you…you are ready for missions.