Purpose Driven Life - Day 38

 

Becoming a World-Class Christian

The Great Commission is your commission.

You will be either a world-class Christian or a worldly Christian.  Worldly Christians look to God primarily for personal fulfillment.  They are saved, but self-centred.  Their prayers focus on their own needs, blessings, and happiness.  It's a "me-first" faith:  How can God make my life more comfortable?  They want to use God for their purposes instead of being used for His purposes. 

In contrast, world-class Christians know they were saved to serve and made for a mission.  They are eager to receive a personal assignment and excited about the privilege of being used by God.  They wake up each morning expecting God to work through them in fresh ways.

God invites you to participate in the greatest, largest, most diverse, and most significant cause in history - His Kingdom.  The opportunities for normal, everyday Christians to become involved in short-term international missions are now literally limitless.  Now, with the Internet, the world has gotten even smaller.  Even many remote villages get email, so you can now carry on "e-vangelistic" conversations with people on the other side of the world.

HOW TO THINK LIKE A WORLD-CLASS CHRISTIAN

Shift from self-centred thinking to other-centred thinking.  Begin asking the Holy Spirit to help you to think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk to them.  With practice you can develop the habit of praying silent "breath prayers" for those you encounter.  Say, "Father, help me to understand what is keeping this person from knowing you."

Shift from local thinking to global thinking.  Begin praying for specific countries.  Get a globe or map and pray for nations by name.  Pray for opportunities to witness, for courage to speak up, for those who will believe, for the rapid spread of the message, and for more workers.

Shift from "here and now" thinking to eternal thinking.  Maintain an eternal perspective.  This will keep you from majoring on minor issues and help you distinguish between what's urgent and what's ultimate.  Use the money God gives you to bring people to Christ.  It's the best financial investment you'll ever make.

Shift from thinking of excuses to thinking of creative ways to fulfill your commission.  Whether it was Sarah claiming she was too old to be used by God or Jeremiah claiming he was too young, God rejected their excuses.  Many Christians have missed God's plan for their lives because they have never even asked God if He wanted them to serve as a missionary somewhere.

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DAY THIRTY-EIGHT

THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE

Point to Ponder:  The Great Commission is my commission.

Verse to Remember:  "Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind."  Psalm 67:2 (LB)

Question to Consider:  What steps can I take to prepare to go on a short-term missions experience in the next year?