[This will be the last devotional in our “Lessons from Haiti” series. It was just a taste of what I learned on my trip. I encourage you to look into doing a missions trip yourself so God can personally teach you many things.]
Hiking in the mountains is one of my favorite things to do. Whenever I go on vacations, preferably to someplace mountainous, I ask around to find one of the best trails in the area to hike or run. Even in my personal training sessions I use many fair-weather days to get my clients to climb up one of our ski mountains. When I heard that throughout our trip to Haiti we’d be climbing the mountains, I was nothing less than thrilled!
Romans 10:14-15 says, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” As followers of Christ it is our command to share the hope we have in Him like it says in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...”. God does not promise us that road will be easy. In fact, in Matthew 7:14 it says, “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” Your feet will get dirty, maybe even covered in mud, on this road. Often times you will get painful blisters. (We got quite a few of these in Haiti and when it rains hard even waterproof bandaids don’t stick). Find encouragement from those in the Bible who kept going through the hardest of rocky roads like Esther, Job, David, and many more who God used greatly.
What gifts, talents, or ideas has God given you that you can use to spread the Word? I’m currently in Chicago investigating fair trade. I’ve already been brainstorming on this idea for a few years for inner city work and now I’m looking at this with an international perspective, obviously because of my recent Haiti trip. Using this as a tool not only to help feed those living in poverty (Matthew 25:35, Isaiah 58:10, Proverbs 28:27) but also to help share the gospel. I was hanging out with my friend the other day who is the Director of Football at a major university. Through his connections in the athletic field, he is bringing in inner city kids for free sports camps. These are run by his players with whom many are actively involved with Athletes in Action. Since 1966, AIA had committed to sharing a Victory beyond Competition that is found only in a relationship with Jesus Christ. In a practical way, my friend and his football players are using their love for sports and Jesus to minister to inner city kids. I think also of my grandma, my biggest role model, who can not help but talk about God in almost every conversation she has. She uses food ministries, quilting, and much more as a platform to share the hope and love that she has through our Savior. I could go on about many more but my main point is what things can YOU use in your life as a ministry? God has equipped you with special and unique gifts. If you don’t know what these are, think of normal things you like to do because those could be a tool He can use. Also, surround yourself with people who can help encourage you, pray for you, and help you develop these tools (Proverbs 12:26, Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 27:17). Watch out for the devil who would like nothing more than to get your foot in a snare (2 Timothy 2:26) so that these tools are not used for God’s glory. Finally, let God guide your steps. Psalms 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, and light on my path”.
No comments:
Post a Comment