The Selfless Self: Give God Your “____Ever”Exemplo

Reaching the World

God’s mission shapes our journey, guiding us not just to a nebulous ‘whatever’, but to a specific ‘wherever’. God’s mission is a divine blueprint that we should willingly embrace. It gives us a sense of purpose, as suggested in verse 22: “That is why I’ve been prevented many times from coming to you.” We all have a mission to follow, and when that call comes, we must answer.

Paul is an exemplar of commitment. His role of spreading the gospel led him to various regions. Upon completing his mission in one area, he would transition to another. Imagine concluding a chapter of your life, confidently saying, “I did the work God had for me.”

This thought is electrifying. It prompts us to live purposefully, mindful of our divine calling, rather than regretting missed chances. “I’ve done all I can do,” Paul declared, reminding us to concentrate on progressing, on the ‘wherever’ of God’s mission.

Paul’s voyage was broad, traversing from the eastern side of the Roman Empire to the west. He anticipated visiting his friends in Rome on his way to Spain, but first, he traveled southward, bearing gifts for the poor saints in Jerusalem. He was steered by his divine mission, unfazed by whether his personal plan aligned with God’s.

To better comprehend this, imagine a global mission map. Some areas are marked red, signifying unengaged, unreached people with no existing mission strategy or church involvement. The orange regions are engaged but still unreached, and the green areas have heard the gospel. Like Paul, our task is to transform that map, to extend our reach to the unreached and unengaged.

Intriguingly, you can also apply this global perspective locally. Many unreached and unengaged individuals live right in our cities, neighborhoods, and workplaces. These are people from countries the gospel is yet to reach, offering us an amazing opportunity to be local missionaries. Imagine reaching the unreached parts of the globe by simply ministering to our neighbors. You could impact a country across the world by telling someone at your local grocery store, park, or gym about Christ.

Remember, we’re part of a broader mission-driven community of believers. Our churches exist because of the missionary journeys of our forebears, those who understood the ‘whatever’ and ‘wherever’. It’s now our turn to integrate the ‘wherever’ of God’s mission into our life narrative. No matter where you are, God’s mission can guide you, if you are prepared to heed the call. Will you answer God’s call on your life?