40acts: Ready to ActSample

Act 34: On a Mission

Those who have devoted their lives to God in full-time ministry, whether at home or overseas, need our support. Their days and nights are marked by physical difficulties and the pressure of tending to those they serve. Too often, they can feel ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ It’s time to honour them for all they sacrifice for the kingdom,  so dig deep and seek God for how you can make their burden lighter. 

Every believer is given the command to ‘go’ and make disciples of the nations. The call is to move into the world, to travel, to spread the gospel, and to see the kingdom come. But for some of us, the call is to a longer-term international mission. Some, like Paul in the New Testament, are called to spend their lives travelling. And as they do, the obvious question is: how? 

When people are called to put their careers on the line and spend their lives travelling to see the kingdom come, this has an obvious financial sacrifice. The stories of the New Testament show us that the early Church had ways to make this happen. 

We know that Paul, in Philippians and elsewhere, is relying on God for his provision, but he sees this happen through churches he has helped to set up, who come through with gifts and support. This was even the case for Jesus! The Son of Man, who ‘had no place to lay his head’ (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58), had a support base of business women who provided from their own means.

This is how we ‘share in the troubles’ of the missionaries out there who are our brothers and sisters. This is a real way that the family of the global Church can support and love in ways that matter. It is also where the rubber hits the road for many of us: is the mission of the Church real in our hearts? Does it take a significant priority in our lives? Does our wallet spending show where our care lies? These questions will come up as we explore how we can serve those on mission, today.