Focus 2020 – The Great Commission: Perspectives from LeadersSample

Polishing Arrows 

Bible passage: 

“The Lord called me from the womb, 

from the body of my mother he named my name. 

He made my mouth like a sharp sword; 

in the shadow of his hand he hid me; 

he made me a polished arrow; 

in his quiver he hid me away. 

And he said to me, ‘You are my servant, 

Israel, in whom I will be glorified…

I will make you as a light for the nations, 

that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth,’” (Isaiah 49:1–3, 6) 

Devotional: 

In Isaiah, the servant’s mission to be a light for the nations is conceived from the womb—meaning, the servant is born to do this task. Its spiritual genome is one of advancing Kingdom territory, which is characterized by the armaments of swords and arrows. 

The sword is a close-combat weapon and represents the servant’s Gospel proclamation to all those within earshot. On the other hand, the servant is also a polished arrow. Arrows are ancient artillery capable of striking targets at a distance. All believers in Christ have this commission of close combat (i.e., local Gospel proclamation) but a few are chosen to be “polished arrows” launched into target-rich environments to proclaim God’s salvation to the nations. These “chosen” ones are the missionaries. No church is equipped without having sharp swords and polished arrows in its arsenal.  

The Church’s privilege and obligation is to begin the process of creating and identifying these polished arrows “from the womb” (i.e., before they were born, Psalm 102:18). To be a polished arrow requires parents to consistently lead their children in Biblical teaching and living. A polished arrow requires churches to purposefully sharpen the children through local Gospel proclamation opportunities. It requires parents and the Church, together, to willingly launch them unto the nations. The Church must deliberately send out their very best that God’s “salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” It was for this mission that we, the Church, were born. 

Quote: All believers in Christ have this commission of close combat (i.e., local Gospel proclamation) but a few are chosen to be “polished arrows” launched into target-rich environments to proclaim God’s salvation to the nations. 

Question: Are your churches being challenged to begin identifying and praying for the unborn to become missionaries? And is there a program tracking their “polishing” process? 

Alex Pettett 

Executive Director, World Witness, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church