Take Action!

Ready:

“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’” -- Matthew 9:35-38 NLT

Set:

These past few days, you’ve read about what it means to have a “heart for the nations” and three simple ways you can get involved: Pray, Give and Go. But it can be overwhelming to know where to start. As we wrap up our devotional series, here a few practical tools you can use to TAKE ACTION.

PRAYER is a powerful tool and a vital part of our walk with Christ, and it’s a key tool in growing your heart for the nations. One way to incorporate praying for the nations is to set an alarm for 10:02 (a.m. or p.m.) and pray for more “workers for the harvest” to share the Gospel to the world, as it says in Luke 10:2. Another way is to watch a Prayercast.com video about a specific country and points they have at the end of each video.

When you hear the word “GIVE” in relation to having a “heart for the nations,” most people think of giving financially. Funding is a necessary part of supporting those who are sharing the Gospel around the world, and you can give it to specific people, places (countries), or projects (events, translation, etc.). But giving isn’t limited to just monetary gifts. We can also give our time (volunteer with your local FCA, host an international guest), skills (meet a need with your talents as a coach/athlete/trainer), and resources (providing Bibles, devotional materials, sports equipment, etc.). Like the story we shared, one Bible and the chance to hear about Jesus can transform a person’s life!

As we read in Matthew 28, Jesus calls us to GO and make disciples of ALL NATIONS. Going on a short-term mission trip overseas is one way that you can experience the Gospel from a new perspective. Did you know that there are over 3.23 billion people in the world who are “unreached” (meaning they do not have access to a Bible in their language nor to a person who knows the Gospel)? According to JoshuaProject.net, That means 41.7% of the world’s population have never heard of Jesus. Our hearts ache to hear that statistic, knowing there are so many who haven’t had the chance at salvation. Pray and consider signing up to serve on a trip with your church, FCA, or other ministries.

As you continue to serve and compete today, we want to encourage you to pray over what to do next. As you pray, we know God will stir your heart for His people and empower you to take action!

Go:  

• In this devotional series, which day challenged you the most? Why?   
• What is God stirring in your heart?   
• How will you grow your heart of the nations? What next steps will you take?

Workout:

Luke 10:2; Psalm 67:1-7; Romans 15:20; Ephesians 3:14-20

Overtime:

“Dear God, thank You for loving me and giving me the chance at salvation. I want to serve You and be a part of reaching the unreached so others may also experience what I have in You. Stir my heart to grow for the nations and for Your people. Help me to remember Matthew 28 and guide me as I take action. Thank You for all You do and continue to do in my life. Amen.”

Hannah Kao

Hannah is an Assistant International Advancement Coordinator for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which has played a huge role in her life ever since the sixth grade at an overnight sports camp. In high school, she was a basketball and softball athlete but now enjoys spin workouts and hikes with her husband, Ed, and dog, Boba.