Thanksgiving Day 16 - Missionaries

Today I am thankful for all the IMB missionaries who give up the comfort of the "American dream" to follow God's dream of reaching the world for Him. These people are amazing and have an incredible heart for missions. Last night we were blessed with the opportunity to host, along with our local William Carey University,  a commissioning service of 77 new missionaries at our church. It was the most moving service I have attended in a while; to see the hearts of these people and hear their stories, their backgrounds, and how God has turned their hearts to the unreached people groups of the world. I have such admiration for missionaries, and sometimes feel that God is calling me to go! I just pray that he will ignite that same passion within my husband and reveal His will to me in that area.

I really enjoyed Dr. Elliff's challenge to all of us; he reminded us that as Christians we are all on mission and shouldn't think we can "check out" and assume that other people will carry the gospel to the dark corners of the earth. It is our call as well, and we, as Paul, should feel a sense of obligation and debt to the Lord Jesus to make his gospel known to all people. We should see all people as God's creation, made in his image, who have souls that will either die and go to hell, or receive Christ as their savior and live eternally with Him. It is our call, and our obligation, to take the good news to those who don't know Him.

We don't have to go to foreign soil to do this; as Dr. Elliff said, those people live behind the closed curtains and blinds of our neighborhood homes every day. If his 93 year-old father can have a cook-out and tell his neighbors about Jesus, what is holding us back? If it's age, this man is a prime example that you are never to old to be on mission for the Lord. Whatever it may be, get out of your comfort zone and go tell the good news!!

Lord, thank you so much for the missionaries, true Christian soldiers, who give up their lives, and put their lives in danger for your work each day. Please help us all to take that call more seriously and put our faith to work for You! As the book of James tells us, faith without works is dead, so please don't let us die spiritually as a result of workless faith, let us die to ourselves so that we may live more for You. I ask these things in Jesus name, Amen!