.....mission

The apostles were instructed by the best Teacher the world has ever known; they witnessed the miracles of Jesus' life as well as His death and resurrection. It had been forty days since Jesus walked victoriously out of the tomb, and He was now returning to the loving arms of His Father. But first, Jesus visited with His friends one last time and gave them a charge which would last the rest of their lives.

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth Acts 1:8

Jesus' death initiated the new covenant agreement between God and man; "this cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you" Luke 22:20. And on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given to all who believed and had entered into this new covenant. Jesus' final instruction to the apostles was for them to be witnesses of this message of hope - to take this message of the new covenant in Christ and the power of His Spirit into the mission field.

Jesus defined the mission field as "to the ends of the earth," meaning the extent of the known world, but He also said to witness "in all Judea and Samaria", and "in Jerusalem". Jesus was saying: Wherever you go - whether near or far - be My witness and boldly proclaim the good news; "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant" 2 Corinthians 3:6.

All who truly profess Jesus as Lord and Savior have been sealed and empowered by His Spirit and are now to be witnesses of the Gospel; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" 2 Corinthians 5:20. Our mission field will not necessarily be in a foreign land, or with a different language, but it WILL be filled with those who need to hear, see, taste, and feel the message of Jesus. And our life ought to be a clear demonstration of that message!

We should praise God for the missionaries in foreign lands. They are accomplishing a vital service and need our prayers and support - and perhaps some of us are being called right now to join in this vital service in a deeper way! But we should also praise God for ALL who faithfully look for the hurting and lonely, who seek out those in need of love and encouragement, who minister the love of Jesus and proclaim His message through all they do...right where they are!

"I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest" John 4:35. The field is all around us - in our church, our neighborhood, our workplace...even in our own family! Let's accept the charge today to be faithful ambassadors and proclaim the good news wherever He leads. Let's boldly step out in faith and enter the mission field!

- adapted from steve troxel