Help! Love, MOM

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 ESV

In What are We Waiting For, Part 1 we discussed the consequences of the divine imperative that Christians use their lives to make disciples and make Christ known in the world before the LORD’s return.

⁵ he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 

⁸ The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Titus 3:5-6, 8

The scriptures show us that God expects His children to bear witness of Him by making disciples and to work at growing the good in the world.

Since, like all people, Christians have a limited time on earth, how can Christ’s followers best use our time in this world?

In this part 2 entry, we will consider practical ways Christians can be missional.

Make Your Time Count

Mismanaging time and opportunities is serious—for at least two reasons.

First, as For King & Country so aptly sings, “Why are we wasting all this time like someone’s making more?” God is not creating more time.

Each moment matters because it’s a limited, irreplaceable gift.

Second, one day I will stand in the presence of the Lord and give an account—not only for what I did, but for what I could have attempted and did not.

Every word uttered, or withheld, every action taken, or avoided, every moment I stewarded and invested well or squandered will be scrutinized and rightly judged by the Just Judge.

This makes my heart tremble.

You too—believer or not—will stand before the Lord Most High to account for your life (Romans 14:12, 2 Corinthians 5:10).

That is not fear-mongering; it is a sobering and eternal reality.

Therefore, how can Christians practically, authentically and lovingly demonstrate Christ’s love now?

What are your “sealed orders?”

The issue hindering some of us from seizing the assignment God has for us is that we don’t know what assignment God has for us. “Assignment” is another word for what the Bible terms “calling.”

Pastor Pete refers to our calling in life as “sealed orders.”

Pete and, his wife, Geri Scazzero lead Emotionally Healthy Discipleship. They are also the founding pastors of New Life Fellowship Church.

They have a podcast, they’ve written books and developed teaching materials. I highly recommend their work to you.

Pete describes sealed orders in military terms as a set of written instructions delivered to a commanding officer.

He says that these sealed orders are not opened until a specific time or circumstance to maintain secrecy about the mission’s objective. 

However, in a spiritual context, Scazzero says that “sealed orders” refer to divine calling or purpose that is uniquely placed within an individual. It’s a kind of personal blueprint for ones life’s journey. 

However, we need the Holy Spirit’s guidance and enabling power to discern our “sealed orders.”

Sealed orders are not commands to be forced, but are an invitation to live out our true potential and contribute to the world by living in our purpose and calling.

Give Trouble, Good Trouble

My Caribbean friends use the expression “give trouble” as alternate for way “annoy” or “to give a hard time.” Christians, let’s give trouble to every inch of evil in this world.

How do we do that? I’m glad you asked.

We can provoke “good trouble,” the late Congressman John Lewis might say, in support of the marginalized, and to alleviate suffering in our world, potentially, through our sealed orders.

For example, human trafficking remains a vicious, systemic evil needing immediate intervention.

If your sealed orders include this directive, Christians can:

~ educate themselves on spotting and supporting victims;

~ serve survivors;

~ help fund legal assistance;

~ advocate policy change; and,

~offer restorative community support.

Other sealed orders may include action (ministry) regarding homelessness, refugee crises, racial injustice, addiction, justice for prisoners and environmental concerns among others.

There’s lots to do in this world!

Serving reflects Jesus’s compassion, advances the Gospel and provides an avenue for you to flow, if you will, in your purpose or your sealed orders. It’s a win, win, win.

When my daughter was young, I might have found getting involved in a cause too much to add to my already overwhelmed plate.

Thankfully, God requires faithfulness to Him first.

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into the way that He would have you to serve the Body of Christ in the world at this time in your life.

Raise your Family

“Everyday” ways of being and staying on Mission for Jesus include:

~ raise your children to fear the Lord; and lovingly represent Jesus to them as you “walk by the way;”

~the fear of the Lord is an old-fashioned yet extremely useful and powerful way of referring to the deep reverential, respectful awe one has for God;

~ the fear of the Lord also incorporates the recognition of God’s authority and power and holiness;

~work a secular job faithfully and represent Jesus with integrity in the workplace; or, of course, in your neighborhood, at school, the gym, et cetera;

I believe that, these, too, are great ways of keeping the mission life-centered.

What are we waiting for?

Blessings,

Kimberly