“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
I believe that the “ye” in this verse applies to every Christian. We all have the duty to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no place on this planet that would not be a mission field in someone’s perspective.
There seems to be a tendency in Christian circles today to think that there are some believers who are missionaries and some who are not. I believe we need to do what we can to erase that line. Every Christian should be a missionary. We must begin to think like Jesus wants us to think.
It would not have been possible for any one of Christ’s disciples to literally go into all the world. Even in our modern age of travel, it would not be possible for one person to witness to everyone in the world. So, Jesus must have meant something else. He did mean what He said, but what does His command mean? All of us must do all we can to reach all the world with the Gospel.
What are our obstacles?
Human Limitation
Each of us can be in only one place at one time. We can speak to a finite number of people at a time. In some ways, we can really deal effectively with only one person at a time.
Resources
Each of us has a limited number of resources. Even if we gave all that we have, it would not be enough to get the Gospel to the entire world.
Time
We each have an allotted time on this earth. Much of that time is consumed with activities necessary to our existence. Sadly, we also waste a great deal of time.
What can we do?
Look
Jesus said, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35). We must realize that there is a great need. Our world languishes without the Gospel. We must think about the great harvest of souls that needs to be brought to Christ. We must realize that it is our responsibility to reach them.
Pray
“The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). We are commanded to pray that the Lord will send laborers. If we can see the field, we can see that there are not enough laborers.
Go
Every Christian must be willing to go. This is an area where we have a particularly difficult time understanding where we fit in. Most Christians feel that if they are not on deputation to go to a foreign land, they are not in the category of those who must go. However, we all must go. There are no exceptions here. God places each one of us and gives us unique opportunities to reach others.
Give
When we give to missions, we are enabling others to go where we cannot go ourselves. This does not excuse us from going. On the contrary, we are responsible to “go” in the area where God has placed us. However, giving does allow God’s plan to continue.
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Giving to missions allows us to be simultaneously involved in reaching our home area, our region, our state, our country, and our world.
If every Christian would see himself as a participant in God’s plan, we could indeed get the Gospel to the world.
E-mail Brad Boruff
