"A Christian is immortal until his work is done."
-James Fraser
I just finished reading a biography about James Fraser, a missionary to China in the early 1900's. I was very encouraged and challenged to read story after story about this man's passion for these remote tribes of people. He would spend hours and days praying and fasting for God to move among the Lisu and spent five years there before he saw any fruit of his work and prayer.
I have always been captivated by stories of missionaries who have devoted their life to a people group in India, Africa, Latin America, etc. There are stories told about people who spend hours and days in prayer, asking God to move greatly among these people they have been "called" to...only to see God move in powerful ways. I have read about entire tribes of people that decided to follow Christ who then ended their practices of child sacrifice, female circumcision, or infanticide. It is always compelling to me to hear of how God works greatly through men and women who have given all of their energy, time, and life fully to be used to worship and serve God.
As I read about James Fraser's life, I was especially convicted this time about the way I see who I have been "called" to. I often think, prayer and total dependence on the Lord, is the only way many of these men and women have been able to stay in some of these countries that they have been in to minister. But why is my life any different? Why do I not think of the people of Phoenix as being my people group that I am called to? America is no different then these remote tribes all over the world...they need a powerful encounter with Christ. Just like child sacrifice and female circumcision can end overnight when a "people" trust Jesus to be their savior...so can child abuse, neglect, domestic violence, substance use, social injustice, etc...when God really moves on a "people."
Prior to reading this book, I do not think I have ever thought of praying for God to move greatly in this city that I am living in. I have never asked God to redeem downtown Phoenix and make it whole and a beautiful reflection of who he is. I have passionately prayed for individual people, I have felt "called" to the women and children I work with, but I have never invested myself so fully as to see that I was placed in Phoenix by the Lord specifically to advance his kingdom and bring glory to his name in this city, among these people.
If only we could stop distinguishing between those "missionaries" all over the world and ourselves.
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4 comments:
Dennae,
Thank you for your post. What has challenged me the most lately is after evaluating my friendships and interactions, with all the time and energy they attract, I have found myself disappointed in how often I seem to forget my role in the relationship as a Christian. Sure, do I sometimes take advantage of opportunities to share the Gospel with others? Yes. Do I sometimes serve in humility as our Lord has? Yes. Do I sometimes encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ through word and deed? Yes. But I am sad to admit that sometimes is just that - sometimes. Not even most of the time.
It reminds me of that verse in 2 Timothy: "No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." Most of the time I find myself tangled in civilian pursuits within the context of my relationships with others; only sometimes do I engross myself in pleasing the One who enlisted me through my interpersonal interaction. I see my relationships too often as a means to satisfy those civilian pursuits - to be entertained, to enjoy the company of others, to receive benefit for myself. As you say, it seems obvious God is calling us to more, "to advance his kingdom and bring glory to his name in this city, among these people."
Does what I am describing make sense? I think it is a common problem many of us share, to forget or even actively dismiss our role among the people of our city. What do you think?
It makes total sense! I think the beautiful thing is the more we really see our identity as truly "soldiers in God's Army" (now I have that children's song running through my head...) then we can do all those wonderful things you do with your friends...but with using the "most" of our time to pointing people to Jesus. Somehow, that singleminded devotion to the Lord is exactly what can bring us the most pleasure, entertainment, and enjoyment. That is what John Piper calls, "Christian Hedonism"!
Yeah, for sure! I was reading in Titus today and yesterday how he keeps instructing to be devoted to good works, how Jesus "gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." It has been a favorite passage of mine for awhile, that He makes us zealous for good works, not just causes us to do them. Seems like Mr. John knows what he is talking about! Just have to remember what it says in the next chapter, that we were ONCE foolish, disobedient, led astray, etc. When I act in those ways I am no longer acting as the Christian man God has called me to be.
John Piper, that is.
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