Focus 2020 – The Great Commission: Perspectives from LeadersSample

The Owner’s Plans 

Bible passage:  

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14–15) 

Devotional: 

Behind the call to world evangelism is the issue of radical stewardship. Some called it a failure. Others said it was an embarrassment. In 1884, the first missionaries from The Christian and Missionary Alliance set out on a 9,292-mile journey to The Congo in Africa. These five young men had just graduated from the newly formed Missionary Training Institute.  

When they arrived, they battled Portuguese slave traders who saw these missionaries as threatening their profits. They battled disease and threats from tribal warriors. Their young leader, John Condit, died of malaria shortly after his arrival. Three others, after failing to secure a mission site, decided to return to the United States. Only one of the original five stayed to eventually secure a small piece of land to launch the first Alliance mission. 

Going to Africa was not a career decision for these five young men. It was a life investment choice based on their understanding of stewardship. They went to Africa because they were owned by Another. That Owner’s plans called for an invasion of Satan’s stronghold in Africa. In fact, even the servants who gave the financial resources for them to fund the mission understood this radical stewardship responsibility. The Owner was calling them to invest. 

I am convinced that the most important issue in the church today is stewardship. I’m not referring to people giving money. I’m talking about God’s people displaying God’s ownership of their life. Paul puts it this way, “Christ’s loves compels us because we are convinced that one died, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 

God is the owner of everything. Why? Because He created everything and everyone. He sustains His creation by His power. Everything belongs to Him. When a person turns their life over to Jesus, they give up ALL their rights. Bottom line: God now owns me and everything that I possess. Part of my rebellion as a sinner is expressed in my attempt to deny this truth. I am only a manager and as a manager, my priorities need to be ordered by the Owner. This may call for a radical stewardship decision to declare God as Owner! 

Quote: "All to Jesus I surrender, alI to him I freely give.” 

Question: How do I demonstrate that God is indeed the Owner of my life? 

Dennis Episcopo 

Senior Pastor, Appleton Alliance Church